A mother's mission to prove her son was killed
Law enforcement officials differ all the time, but rarely in public. That's what made the case of Joseph A. Miranda so intriguing. The young man was killed five years ago when an earth mover ran over him at a landscaping company.
Police and prosecutors all ruled accident. Joseph's mother, Adrienne, thought differently. And through her persistence, got the ruling she wanted. This summer, the Maryland Medical Examiner's Office ruled that Joseph had been pushed or had fallen face down during an altercation with another man before the Bobcat ran over him.
The cause of death was changed, from undetermined to homicide.
Still, prosecutors and police in Baltimore and Carroll counties refuse to investigate further, leaving the mother to try to find some other way to bring justice. Said Baltimore County Scott D. Shellenberger: "It does not rise to the level of a crime."
The Medical Examiner pointed to inconsistencies in a key witness statement taken during a civil deposition five years after the accident. But the ME had questions going back years, and had been asking the police do do more. Police believed the account of the witness -- that Joseph slipped off the wheel of the machine and was accidentally crushed, which the ME says now was impossible.
It is a remarkable tale of a mother (seen above in the picture by The Sun's Amy Davis) who won't give up, no matter how many people she's exacerbated over the years during her relentless campaign. Read the full account here.
Comments
Dear Scott D. Shellenberger:
When does a homicide "not rise to the level of a crime." This young man's death was ruled a homicide. When is a murder not a crime? How would you feel if this was your child or a close relative? Would you still have the same level of ignorance? You don't even show a sense of indifference, just a sense of coldness and uncaring.
Posted by: James | October 17, 2011 12:41 PM
How does anyone not see what has occurred in this travesty of Justice? This young man was
brutally assaulted by a co-worker and killed. How does the Top Cop in Baltimore County refuse to press criminal
charges and then go against
the Chief Medical Examiner and his Assistant M. E. stating he does not agree with their findings of Homicide. This has to be unprecedented and it is outrageous, unjust, and totally unfounded. What does he base his refusal of the fact
that a crime occurred on? There has to be more behind this most serious non-action and magnitude of injustice.
Posted by: Skyeye | October 18, 2011 1:29 AM
I have read this story over and over again and each time I am more outraged. For Scott Shellenberger and his Baltimore County detectives to go against and defy the facts, findings, science, physics, conclusions and evidence of the Authorities in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Maryland must
be unlawful. If it is not, with all that has been uncovered in this case, there is serious disfunction, gross injustice and a magnitude of behind the scene corruption. How can Scott Shellenberger claim " the case does not rise to the level of a crime"? The Chief M. E. for the State of Maryland has already confirmed this young man's death a homicide and he was killed at the hands of another by a physical action of assault, attack, viloence and brutality.
This is murder. In addition to this horrific crime upon the victim, the evidence, documents and deposition of Paul Godwin already prove that he repeatedly lied under oath and committed Obstruction of Justice, perjury......since when is that not a CRIME. Scott Shellenberger needs his head examined and much more investigation into his unprecedented and disgusting decision in this case. He is not worthy of his position to serve the public in his capacity of crime solving, resolution and obtaining justice for the citizens of Baltimore County and the State of Maryland. He should be immediately put on notice of an interrogation and served with an indictment.
Posted by: getbehindme | November 7, 2011 11:29 PM