Ethan Thomas Henderson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Broken bones in an infant that can’t walk are a red flag of abuse and one of the injuries that Ethan sustained before his death was a broken arm. Ethan’s mother, Christina Henderson, told health care providers and family members that it was the result of Ethan’s arm being stuck between the slats of his crib when his father picked him up along with the blankets that were covering him. Maine hotline workers had received at least 13 calls warning that Ethan or his siblings were suffering abuse. These reports included assertions that an older sister had been found covered in bruises, was possibly being sexually abused and had been burned by a stove because she was left unsupervised. Ethan himself had arrived at daycare with deep red bruises covering his arm. Still, the caseworker who inspected the family’s cramped trailer six days before Ethan death reported that the baby appeared “well cared for and safe in the care of his parents.”

 

On May 5,2012 Ethan’s father, Gordon Collins-Faunce, lost his temper while caring for his son. Ethan suffered head injuries that left him in a coma and he died at Maine Medical Center three days later on May 8, 2012 after being removed for life support. Collins-Faunce admitted to killing his 2½ month old son, Ethan, by squeezing his head and throwing him against a chair. He also confessed that he broke the infant’s arm six weeks earlier. An injury that should have triggered intervention by state or medical professionals. He also admitted that he inflicted rib and head injuries on Ethan in the intervening weeks.

 

Collins-Faunce, is serving a 20-year prison term for manslaughter. The only health care or child welfare worker disciplined so far in Ethan’s death is Virginia McNamara, a visiting nurse who surrendered her license to practice in Maine after the Maine State Board of Nursing found she failed to report signs of abuse.