For many parents, daycare is a trusted place that they rely on to care for their children while away at work. While there, there’s an expectation that their children will be looked after so no harm comes to them. Unfortunately for one Eudora family, an employee at their son’s daycare had other plans that resulted in the death of 8-year-old Oliver Ortiz back on September 29, 2016. Carrody M. Buchhorn, 44, of Eudora is the woman accused of causing the infant’s death and is currently sitting through her murder trial.
For many parents, daycare is a trusted place that they rely on to care for their children while away at work. While there, there’s an expectation that their children will be looked after so no harm comes to them. Unfortunately for one Eudora family, an employee at their son’s daycare had other plans that resulted in the death of 8-year-old Oliver Ortiz back on September 29, 2016. Carrody M. Buchhorn, 44, of Eudora is the woman accused of causing the infant’s death and is currently sitting through her murder trial.
Earlier this week, the trial got started in Douglas County District Court with the jury selection and is expected to last about a week and a half. However, Judge Sally Pokorny noted that she wouldn’t be surprised if the trial took a full two weeks. She said that early Monday morning, “more than 50 potential jurors packed the courtroom.” Speaking to the room, she informed the potential jurors that the case involved a child who died at daycare.
More details were revealed to the potential jurors when prosecutor C.J. Rieg began questioning them. During the selection process he told the would-be jurors that the case “involved the death of a 9-month-old child and that during the trial, jurors could expect to see upsetting photos.” Not long after the process, many people were released. A few even left the “courtroom in tears after telling Rieg that even without knowing more, they found the situation too emotional for them to be impartial.”
But what happened? Well, according to police reports, Eudora police responded to “the city’s Sunshine Kids Group Daycare Home at 1307 Chestnut Lane, where 9-month-old Oliver Ortiz was unresponsive.” The child was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after. When commenting on the cause of death, Rieg said the coroner, Dr. Erik Mitchell noted on the child’s death certificate that Oliver “died from homicide due to blunt force trauma.” Specifically, the coroner determined that the infant “suffered three injuries to his head. His spinal cord was also damaged and the injuries were so severe that he quickly died.” It’s also believed that Oliver may have survived, albeit likely disabled, had Buchhorn sought medical attention immediately.
Months late in April 2017, Buchhorn was officially charged with first-degree murder after it was concluded that she was the only person with the infant when the injuries occurred.
Up until now, Buchhorn has been on house arrest while awaiting her trial. However, the trial isn’t expected to begin until a jury is selected. As of Monday, a jury still had not been selected, though the process is expected to continue until all the seats are filled.
Sources:
Trial underway for woman accused of murdering baby at Eudora daycare
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