A Death in Washington
Jim Kouri, CPP
September 03, 2005
A Washington, DC woman received a mere 17 years of incarceration for torturing to death one-year-old Selena McDonald. Caroline Deforest pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter with aggravating circumstances and first degree cruelty to children.
According to the police investigation, the sadistic torturer and killer in the days preceding Monday, January 12, 2004, kicked, hit with both a clenched fist and open hand, and bit a one-year-old infant. This baby was beaten to death by her own caregiver. The defendant knew Selena McDonald was a particularly vulnerable victim due to her age and Deforest knew of her fragility. Yet that didn't sway her from her vicious attacks on the defenseless child
In March of 2003, when Selena McDonald was approximately three months of age, Deforest became Selena's sole caretaker and Selena remained in her sole care and custody until approximately 7:52 a.m., January 12, 2004, when members of the Metropolitan Police Department and the DC Fire Department responded to Deforest's home and found Selena McDonald dead. The baby's remains were observed to have multiple visible injuries to her face, head and body and she was in a soiled diaper.
Dr. Gertrude M. Juste, Deputy Medical Examiner, performed an autopsy on the infant and determined the cause of death due to be the result of complications of blunt impact trauma. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.
The autopsy included the following diagnoses of Selena McDonald: 1) blunt impact to the head including subdural hemorrhage, subdural empyema, moderate brain edema and multiple patterned contusions and abrasions of scalp and face; 2) blunt impact of neck with scattered abrasions of posterior and anterior neck; 3) blunt impact of torso with patterned healing abrasions of the anterior torso, clusters of tiny reddish abrasions on the right and left anterior torso, clusters of superficial abrasions on the right posterior torso, internal injuries including healed fractures of 9th and 10th left ribs posteriorly and hemorrhage of the liver; 4) healing bite marks of the anterior torso; 5) infected rash of pubic and perineal areas as well as midline of buttock region with shallow lacerations; and 6) injuries to the extremities including healed and healing abrasions and contusions of both hands, thighs, legs and feet, patterned injuries consistent with bite marks on the left inner thigh right anterior thigh and posterior right leg. Without a doubt, Deforest mercilessly and repeatedly brutalized little Selena.
In announcing the sentence, the US Attorney commended the outstanding police work of Detectives Q Wallace and George Taylor of the Special Victims Unit of the Metropolitan Police Department. One can only wish that the US Attorney tried the case -- refusing a plea bargain -- and that Caroline Deforest could face life in a prison cell, at the very least.
Rest in peace, little Selena.
According to the police investigation, the sadistic torturer and killer in the days preceding Monday, January 12, 2004, kicked, hit with both a clenched fist and open hand, and bit a one-year-old infant. This baby was beaten to death by her own caregiver. The defendant knew Selena McDonald was a particularly vulnerable victim due to her age and Deforest knew of her fragility. Yet that didn't sway her from her vicious attacks on the defenseless child
In March of 2003, when Selena McDonald was approximately three months of age, Deforest became Selena's sole caretaker and Selena remained in her sole care and custody until approximately 7:52 a.m., January 12, 2004, when members of the Metropolitan Police Department and the DC Fire Department responded to Deforest's home and found Selena McDonald dead. The baby's remains were observed to have multiple visible injuries to her face, head and body and she was in a soiled diaper.
Dr. Gertrude M. Juste, Deputy Medical Examiner, performed an autopsy on the infant and determined the cause of death due to be the result of complications of blunt impact trauma. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.
The autopsy included the following diagnoses of Selena McDonald: 1) blunt impact to the head including subdural hemorrhage, subdural empyema, moderate brain edema and multiple patterned contusions and abrasions of scalp and face; 2) blunt impact of neck with scattered abrasions of posterior and anterior neck; 3) blunt impact of torso with patterned healing abrasions of the anterior torso, clusters of tiny reddish abrasions on the right and left anterior torso, clusters of superficial abrasions on the right posterior torso, internal injuries including healed fractures of 9th and 10th left ribs posteriorly and hemorrhage of the liver; 4) healing bite marks of the anterior torso; 5) infected rash of pubic and perineal areas as well as midline of buttock region with shallow lacerations; and 6) injuries to the extremities including healed and healing abrasions and contusions of both hands, thighs, legs and feet, patterned injuries consistent with bite marks on the left inner thigh right anterior thigh and posterior right leg. Without a doubt, Deforest mercilessly and repeatedly brutalized little Selena.
In announcing the sentence, the US Attorney commended the outstanding police work of Detectives Q Wallace and George Taylor of the Special Victims Unit of the Metropolitan Police Department. One can only wish that the US Attorney tried the case -- refusing a plea bargain -- and that Caroline Deforest could face life in a prison cell, at the very least.
Rest in peace, little Selena.
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