Doctors: Infant May Have Been Beaten For Weeks
Judge Rules Joseph Dowler Will Stand Trial For Tanner's Death
POSTED: 8:16 a.m. MST January 15, 2003
UPDATED: 11:57 a.m. MST January 15, 2003
BOULDER, Colo. -- A Lafayette infant who died in October after suffering 14 bone fractures was allegedly beaten for most of his short life.
Doctors testified Tuesday that by the time Tanner Dowler was taken to a hospital Oct. 3 he was barely breathing and his brain was mostly dead. The 8-week-old died 11 days later without emerging from a coma.
The testimony came in a preliminary hearing for Joseph Dowler, who is accused with first-degree murder in his son's death.
Judge Morris Sandstead ruled Wednesday that there is evidence for him to stand trial.
Lafayette police Detective Scott Robinson interviewed Joseph Dowler (pictured, below) after doctors alerted authorities to possible child abuse. Robinson said the father feared he had injured the child.
Robinson said Dowler voiced that fear to his wife after an especially severe beating 12 hours before the child was taken to the hospital.
"He told his wife, quote, 'I think I broke our son,'" Robinson said.
That beating was the culmination of two days of abuse, Robinson said, citing Dowler's statements. The period of abuse included the still-unexplained second-degree burns on Tanner's feet.
But severe abuse had occurred previously. Dr. John Wendelin Ogle, the head of pediatrics at Denver Health, said some of the broken bones appeared to have occurred several weeks before Tanner died.
Among the fractured bones were seven ribs. Tanner would have been in pain every time he breathed, coughed, cried or was picked up, Ogle said.
According to the arrest record, Dowler also told police that "has an anger problem and needs help with losing his temper." He also said he "has picked Tanner up by his neck before, and moved him around by his head."
The baby's mother, Audra Dowler, has been charged with three counts of child abuse for not seeking medical care for him.
Tanner was laid to rest in October. His public viewing turned into a platform for those who want to call attention to the plight of such victims.
Joseph Dowler had asked a judge to release him from jail temporarily so that he could attend his son's funeral. The judge denied that specific request but allowed Dowler to hold a private viewing of Tanner's body.
Doctors testified Tuesday that by the time Tanner Dowler was taken to a hospital Oct. 3 he was barely breathing and his brain was mostly dead. The 8-week-old died 11 days later without emerging from a coma.
The testimony came in a preliminary hearing for Joseph Dowler, who is accused with first-degree murder in his son's death.
Judge Morris Sandstead ruled Wednesday that there is evidence for him to stand trial.
Lafayette police Detective Scott Robinson interviewed Joseph Dowler (pictured, below) after doctors alerted authorities to possible child abuse. Robinson said the father feared he had injured the child.
Robinson said Dowler voiced that fear to his wife after an especially severe beating 12 hours before the child was taken to the hospital.
"He told his wife, quote, 'I think I broke our son,'" Robinson said.
That beating was the culmination of two days of abuse, Robinson said, citing Dowler's statements. The period of abuse included the still-unexplained second-degree burns on Tanner's feet.
But severe abuse had occurred previously. Dr. John Wendelin Ogle, the head of pediatrics at Denver Health, said some of the broken bones appeared to have occurred several weeks before Tanner died.
Among the fractured bones were seven ribs. Tanner would have been in pain every time he breathed, coughed, cried or was picked up, Ogle said.
According to the arrest record, Dowler also told police that "has an anger problem and needs help with losing his temper." He also said he "has picked Tanner up by his neck before, and moved him around by his head."
The baby's mother, Audra Dowler, has been charged with three counts of child abuse for not seeking medical care for him.
Tanner was laid to rest in October. His public viewing turned into a platform for those who want to call attention to the plight of such victims.
Joseph Dowler had asked a judge to release him from jail temporarily so that he could attend his son's funeral. The judge denied that specific request but allowed Dowler to hold a private viewing of Tanner's body.
Previous Stories:
- October 21, 2002: Beaten Baby Laid To Rest
- October 18, 2002:
Father Of Dead Baby Faces Murder Charge
October 15, 2002: Infant's Death Ruled Homicide
- October 14, 2002: Murder Charges Considered In Child Abuse Case
- October 13, 2002: Baby In Lafayette Child Abuse Case Dies
- October 10, 2002: More Charges Filed In Lafayette Child Abuse Case
- October 9, 2002: Unusual Motion Made To Attend Child's Autopsy
- October 7, 2002: Lafayette Child Abuse Case Moves Forward
- October 4, 2002: Lafayette Police Investigate Child Abuse Case
Copyright 2003 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
