Toles murder retrial

Kevin Adrea Towles

A retired state medical examiner testified Friday in the second day of testimony in the capital murder retrial of Andre Towles

that Geonte Glass died of complications from untreated blunt force trauma injuries, some caused by beatings with a belt and with a wooden stick,.

Emily Ward told jurors the 5-year-old’s injuries did not all occur at the same time, and open injuries to the boy’s backside and one leg occurred from repeated blows to the same part of his body that eventually knocked off the first layer of skin.

Some of the injuries caused significant blood loss deep within the tissues of the boy’s buttocks and leg, and internal examination Ward performed of the body found bleeding around the boy’s spinal cord. She testified that “Tremendous force” would have been needed to inflict those injuries.

Ward said the boy would have suffered “spinal shock” and been unable to walk after such an injury. With treatment, it was possible he could have recovered.  Under cross-examination by defense attorney Dani Bone, Ward said she could not determine exactly how long before the boy’s death the injuries occurred. She said some were in various stages of healing.  Ward told jurors that Geontae could have survived the injuries had they been treated. Bone repeatedly asked if Glass could have survived had “someone, let’s say, his mother,” provided nutrition and hydration and proper treatment.

Ward said medical attention would have been needed for the child to survive.  Toles retrial continues today.