By Kay Stephens

kstephens@altoonamirror.com

HOLLIDAYSBURG — A Pittsburgh pediatrician said Thursday that injuries suffered by a 3-year-old Altoona child, including a head injury in May 2019 that led to emergency surgery, did not result from accidents.

Dr. Adelaide Eichman examined the child at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh where the girl underwent surgery to remove blood accumulating beneath her skull.

The pediatrician, testifying Thursday before Blair County Judge Wade Kagarise, said she was aware of a claim that the child had fallen backward and struck her head on a plastic potty.

“No, that wouldn’t account for the brain injury (the child) sustained,” Eichman testified by video transmission.

First Assistant District Attorney Nichole Smith put Eichman on the witness stand in support of felony aggravated assault of a child, felony aggravated assault with indifference to life and two related charges that Altoona police filed against Jamie Lynn Eckard, 26, of Altoona.

The 3-year-old girl was in Eckard’s care on May 11, 2019, when the child suffered injuries causing her to become unconscious and limp. Eckard told police she was in the kitchen when she heard a “boom” in the living room where the 3-year-old was playing with another toddler.

After separating the children, Eckard said the 3-year-old fell asleep and couldn’t be awakened, prompting the child to be taken to UPMC Altoona.

A subsequent investigation revealed that the child’s injuries were likely suffered from being shaken, prompting police to charge Eckard.

Defense attorney Louis Emmi of Pittsburgh, who represents Eckard, subsequently filed a motion challenging the evidence offered in support of the criminal charges. If Kagarise agrees with the defense, the charges could be dismissed. If he finds that the evidence is sufficient to support the criminal charges, then Eckard’s case will keep moving toward trial.

In court Thursday, Emmi asked Eichman how much time elapsed between the child’s alleged injuries and Eichman’s examination of the child at UPMC Children’s Hospital. Eichman said it was probably more than 12 hours.

Eckard told police that when she was unable to wake the child, she contacted the child’s father and a relative who is a certified nursing assistant. The child was initially taken to UPMC Altoona, then transferred to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

At Thursday’s hearing, Emmi asked Eichman about the immediate symptoms of the child’s alleged head injury. Eichman said she couldn’t be specific but advised the defense attorney that UPMC Altoona had done a CT scan of the child’s head.

The pediatrician also testified that the child had a retinal hemorrhage — bleeding at the back of her eye. She also had a torn frenulum, the fold of skin between the back of the lips and gums. By itself, the pediatrician said, that tear can be a common accidental injury for a 3-year-old. In this case, the father reported that it likely occurred when the child tripped and started bleeding, while she had been in Eckard’s care.

The pediatrician also referenced the child as having marks, scratches, bruises and scars in various stages of healing on her neck, abdomen, back and legs.

“(The child) had many, many more marks than a child of her age would have,” the pediatrician said.

Emmi pointed out, during his questioning of the pediatrician, that two bite marks found on the child — one on her arm and one on her abdomen — could be attributed to a 1-year-old sibling.

Eichman offered no disagreement but in response, referenced the additional marks on the body.

“The amount was unusual for a 3-year-old,” she said.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 946-7456.