Grandmother, boyfriend charged in toddler’s death
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Child Death Arrest
Child Death Arrest
Jody Barr/WBTW
A tearful Julia Gorman is escorted into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center by Horry County Police investigators Friday afternoon after being interrogated at county police headquarters at the M.L. Brown building Friday morning.
Published: July 19, 2008
Updated: July 19, 2008
Police arrested the grandmother of a 1-year-old who died Wednesday at the Medical University of South Carolina after being airlifted from a Conway hospital Monday night.
On Friday, Horry County investigators detained and questioned 37-year-old Julia Shawnette Gorman, along with her boyfriend, 30-year-old Robert Andrew Palmer, in connection with the child’s death.
Friday afternoon, investigators charged Gorman with a homicide by child abuse charge, which carries a mandatory 20 years in prison up to a life sentence and Palmer faces unlawful neglect charges in connection to the baby’s death.
Investigators took the couple to the M.L. Brown Building in Conway for questioning Friday morning, then booked the couple into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center around noon.
The couple lives in the Galivants Ferry area, according to booking reports.
County investigator David Weaver, the lead detective on the child abuse case, served the pair with their warrants Friday afternoon.
The warrants state that Gorman inflicted the deadly injuries to her 17-month-old grandson, and that Palmer failed to report the incident and also failed to get medical attention for the child.
Police think the injuries happened sometime between July 11 and July 14 at the couple’s home on Highway 129 near Aynor.
Medics flew the child from the Conway Medical Center late Monday night after Gorman and Palmer took the baby to the hospital, according to a county police report.
An autopsy is set for Saturday to determine the exact cause of death, according to Edge.
In a criminal record check on Gorman and Palmer, News13 found that the state Highway Patrol charged Gorman with failing to restrain a child in a vehicle and ticketed her for not wearing seatbelt in late January.
Gorman pleaded guilty to the charges on Feb. 08, 2008in Conway, according to county records.
Palmer had several traffic offenses, but the county records on Palmer showed no prior criminal charges against him.
The baby’s mother is living in Arizona, and the child’s father, Richard Grimes, is living in Virginia, according to family members.
The father placed the emergency call to Horry County dispatch Monday night from Virginia, according to the police report.
We do not know the custody status of the baby at the time of the incident on July 14.
You can count on News13 to continue to update this story as details become available.
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Reader Reactions
Tragic?? More like horrific!!! Someone should beat the life out of these two pieces of trash. I hope they get life sentences and I hope they are treated in prison just the same as they treated that baby.
something has got to give there are too many children being involved in different cases.who speaks up for them they are so innocent,have not been able to live their life,just because the’re small dosent mean they dont have a say,someone needs to take a stand for the small ones and help them,i will say a prayer for all invloved.
to jeska6584
I know Aydain and his mom personally right here in Arizona. Now, lets tell the truth. You’re right, Aydain was and is still loved. Now the truth that no one wants to here or admit.
Ces looked at him as an inconvience. She was too busy partying, moving constantly with Aydain every few weeks for the past year. They lived with me for a while. I was the one feeding,changing,bathing, and taking care of him. She left him with anyone who would babysit. And I loved him sooooo much and still do. She left him with her mother that abused HER as a child. She was put into foster homes during her life because of it. So WHY would you leave a child with the woman you KNOW abuses children???????
Aydain was a beautiful baby. He brought such joy to my heart and my home/family. We will all miss you.
Hang THE BITCHES!!!
This is a tragedy for all concerned. However, I do not think that the “whole story” has come out as yet. An innocent child is dead and the how is yet to be determined. In the end justice will be done, if not in this world in the next. Please pray for all involved.
As a Christian I know these people need prayer. In the flesh I say,“Hang ‘em!“
THIS IS ALL SO TERRIBLE!
This child was loved…My step-sister is beside herself right now. We all are, I am thrilled to see such quick justice. I also want to say that I know for a fact that my step-sister was under the impression that leaving her child with her own mother for a couple weeks while she flew out of town to take care of some things would be okay like any person would. You are suppossed to be able to trust your own mother. But I guess this goes to show that anyone is capable of anything and you can’t even trust your own family with your children. I hope that all the women in jail missing their children will take out their frustration on Julie like she did to an innocent 17 month old. Everyone hold your babies close tonight, smile because they are with you and pray for our lil’ man. At least we know he is somewhere safe now.*Aydain you were mommy’s special little angel and we all miss you so much!*
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