Greenfield child death cold case; medical examiner, others testify
GREENFIELD, Wis. - New details emerged Wednesday in the trial of Ronald Schroeder, the man accused in the 1991 death of his 7-week-old daughter.
Milwaukee County's chief medical examiner took the stand on the second day of testimony.
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"I would certify the manner of death is homicide," said Dr. Wieslawa Tlomak, Milwaukee County's chief medical examiner. "The cause of death was blunt force injuries to the head."
Tlomak said she based her findings on previous reports, photos, files and documents related to the case. She said 7-week-old Catherine Schroeder suffered brain and retinal hemorrhaging, as well as other injuries to her ribs.
Dr. Wieslawa Tlomak, Milwaukee County's chief medical examiner, testified at Schroder trial
"The injuries were so severe that resulted in the death of this child that the child had three fractures," she said. "There's no explanation for how these three fractures occurred."
Schroder's defense asked whether there could have been other factors that led to Catherine's injuries – such as a car accident that happened days before her death.
A former neighbor of Schroder's also testified on Wednesday, as did a domestic violence expert. Elizabeth Ghilardi, a social worker who interviewed Schroeder and his wife in the summer of 1991 for suspected child abuse, also took the stand.
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"You would have noted if they were hesitant to share information with you?" said Defense Attorney Charlie Glenn.
"I likely would have documented something," said Ghilardi.
Testimony will resume Thursday morning. The trial is expected to go into next week.