More charges likely in neglect case

NEW CUMBERLAND - Hancock County Prosecutor James Davis Jr. believes more charges eventually will be filed against two Chester parents accused of neglect in the death of their infant son.

The child's mother, 32-year-old Amanda Dawn Goodman, was scheduled to appear at 11 a.m. today before Hancock County Magistrate Michael Powell. His father, Kristopher William Burchett, 27, will appear before Magistrate Scott Hicks at 11 a.m. March 12. Both are charged with child neglect resulting in injury following an investigation into the Feb. 1 death of 4-month-old Brandon Burchett.

If convicted on the current charges, Goodman and Kristopher Burchett each face one to three years in prison. Davis said Thursday that his office is awaiting final autopsy results on the infant before determining whether more serious charges are warranted.

The prosecutor said there is enough evidence at this point to justify the charges of neglect resulting in injury, but without a medical examiner's findings it would be impossible to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the parents' alleged neglect caused Brandon's death.

"But it's thought that there will be more charges, or different charges," Davis said.

Hancock County sheriff's deputies arrested Goodman and Burchett last month. According to court records, Kristopher Burchett called 911 the morning of Feb. 1, reporting that Brandon was not breathing. A doctor at East Liverpool City Hospital pronounced Brandon dead a short time later.

According to the criminal complaint, investigators described the 500 Fairview Road home where the child lived as "dirty" and "uninhabitable," with the temperature inside approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Trash and dirty diapers were piled in corners and covered the floor, they said.

Court documents indicate a full two hours may have passed between Goodman finding Brandon not breathing and Burchett's 10:31 a.m. 911 call. Goodman reportedly told deputies that after finding their son in that condition she phoned Burchett, who was staying at his uncle's residence and came to Goodman's home before calling paramedics.

The complaint states another individual living in the house, Michael Brown, told investigators he entered a bedroom at about 8:30 a.m. and saw Goodman sitting on the bed next to Brandon, who was lying on his back. He said he checked the baby's neck for a pulse and that Brandon "felt ice cold."

Two other children, ages 1 and 2, were removed from the home and placed in the care of other family members, the report notes.

Preliminary autopsy results revealed no traces of food in Brandon's system and indicated that the baby's diaper hadn't been changed in at least two days.

Both Goodman and Burchett remained lodged Thursday in the Northern Regional Jail on $50,000 cash bond each.