Preston and his wife, Amber, came under suspicion twice: after their son Landon’s death on March 31, 2009, and after his brother Ethan’s death in 2006.
The coroner found Landon Shawen died from a genetic disorder that causes excessive blood clotting. Ethan’s death was attributed to meningitis, but authorities were suspicious and investigated the family for child abuse.
Defense attorneys had their own suspicions. They kept hearing “vague rumors” about a secret Children’s Medical Center report that showed that Ethan died from a similar disorder as his brother, said attorney Anthony Cicero, who is representing the family along with Lori Withers, in a lawsuit against the hospital, some doctors, the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office and Montgomery County Children Services.
“To this day, everybody says we’re not entitled to (the report),” Cicero said.
But someone thought they should have it. The report, done by neuropathologist William Halliday and delivered directly to CMC Vice President of Medical Affairs Thomas F. Murphy, arrived anonymously at Cicero’s office one day.
“It mysteriously appeared on our fax machine,” Cicero said. “It’s just unbelievable.”
Ethan Shawen was born June 18, 2006. His parents were married weeks after his birth. At the time, his family lived in Kettering.
During his brief life, Ethan suffered mysterious rashes and other ailments.
“I knew something was wrong,” Amber Shawen said. “Never once crossed my mind that he would die.”
On Aug. 19, 2006, Ethan was taken to Children’s for emergency treatment.
A doctor diagnosed his injuries as the result of shaken baby syndrome. The boy died a day later. Preston immediately came under suspicion, but the coroner ruled Oct. 4 that Ethan died from meningitis, which caused blood clots and swelling in his brain.
Sometime after that, Halliday reviewed the boy’s medical records and the coroner’s report. His diagnosis: no abuse, and no meningitis. The boy died from a treatable genetic disorder that caused excessive clotting.
The family was never told this, according to the lawsuit.
The Shawens had a daughter, Allison, in August 2007. Landon was born Feb. 11, 2009.
On March 28, he was rushed to Children’s.
“When we walked into that hospital, we were guilty,” Amber Shawen said.
Three days after admission, Landon died. That same day, Allison was removed from her parents’ custody and placed with her maternal grandparents. The girl went through a full body scan April 9 at Children’s because authorities suspected abuse.
Around April 15, Murphy shared Halliday’s report with Allison’s primary care physician, but instructed her not to allow the Shawens to see the report, according to the lawsuit.
Though the Shawens’ lawyers issued subpoenas for all medical records, and Amber Shawen attempted to get them as well, the report was never given to the Shawens.
On June 5, the coroner ruled that Landon died from a treatable genetic disorder that causes excessive blood clotting. Allison was returned to her parents on June 24.
Allison still suffers from a detachment disorder, according to the lawsuit. She also has blood disorders, though ones that prevent her blood from clotting, her parents said.
The couple, who now live in Riverside, are being treated for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Preston, 24, a construction worker, said that it saddens him to know that his second son could have been saved.
Amber, 23, who works in patient registration at Miami Valley Hospital, said she is angry.
“I’m not going to lie,” she said. “They did nothing to help us. Nothing at all.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2057 or lgrieco@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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