9/20/12 Jury finds Shreve woman not guilty in death of 15-month-old girl girl
By Nick Sabo
September 20, 2012
473
SUMMARY: Kelly Kline not guilty on all counts
A Shreve woman was found not guilty of murder Thursday Oct. 20 in the death of a 15-month-old Wooster girl.
Kelly M. Kline, 34, 4599 S. Firestone Road, Sheve, was found not guilty by a jury of three women and nine men on charges of murder, two counts of assault, involuntary manslaughter and endangering children.
The jurys deliberations lasted approximately four hours. Deliberations began Wednesday but were suspended by Wayne County Common Pleas Judge Corey Spitler, due to a juror needing to visit his sick mother.
A sixth charge of endangering children included in the original indictment brought against Kline was thrown out Wednesday by Spitler on a motion by Klines attorney, John Johnson, Jr.
The charges stem from March 28, 2011, when Kline was babysitting Wooster toddler Emma Young. While at Klines residence, Ella slipped into respiratory failure and did not recover. Emma died the next day, March 29, at Akron Childrens Hospital.
As the not guilty verdicts were read, members of Klines family broke into tears, as did members of Ellas family. In the hallway outside of Spitlers courtroom, Klines family embraced; Kline telling her mother that a year and a half of hell is over. Ellas family remained in the courtroom, consoling one another.
Johnson offered evidence through an expert medical witness who said Ellas death was caused by a traumatic event at least three to four days prior to her death. Wayne County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John Williams presented testimony from Akron Childrens Hospital Dr. Daryl Steiner and Summit County Medical Examiner Dr. Lisa Kohler that indicated Ellas injuries were caused no less than a few hours before noon March 28.
Johnson, in his closing remarks to the jury Wednesday, said what happened to Ella Young was a tragedy...what happened to Kelly Kline is a disgrace. Johnson said that sometimes bad things happen and no one is to blame.
After the verdict, Johnson said that justice was done.
Obviously, the jury examined the evidence and came to the conclusion weve had since the beginning, Johnson said.
