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Pathologist rules out abuse in boy's death in 1969
By Edith Brady-Lunny
eblunny@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON -- A forensic pathologist has ruled the death of a 5-year-old boy almost 39 years ago likely was caused by bronchial asthma or a reaction to an anesthetic given to the child after he broke his arm.

Larry Freitag died in the emergency room at what was then St. Joseph’s Hospital, Bloomington, on May 19, 1969, where his mother, Nancy Gordon, had taken him with a broken right arm.

Years later, Freitag’s sister, Cindy Patton, began to question the cause of the child’s death and asked McLean County Coroner Beth Kimmerling’s office to review the autopsy and inquest records connected with the boy’s death.

Swelling of the child’s brain was consistent with asthma and terminal seizures, according to a summary Kimmerling released Thursday of a report by pathologist Dr. Scott Denton. Autopsy reports indicate the child suffered seizures as doctors were attempting to set the fractured arm.

“There was no investigation or autopsy evidence of abuse that caused his death,” according to Denton’s opinion.

For Gordon, the report ends a period of painful reminders of her son’s death.

“I’m very relieved it’s over, but I’m not surprised about anything. I knew what the findings would be,” said Gordon.

Denton’s examination of the case included autopsy reports, a coroner’s report, newspaper accounts of the child’s death and the death certificate. Last month, Denton and Chief Deputy Coroner Barb Nafziger visited the back porch of a home on North Roosevelt Avenue, Bloomington, where Freitag lived with his family and reportedly fell and broke his arm.

There are two conditions that could have contributed to the child’s death, but they could not be addressed by Denton after nearly four decades. One would be a fat embolism that could have moved from the fracture site to Freitag’s lungs; the other could be an allergic reaction to an anesthetic injected in his right arm.

The conditions may have occurred “while the doctors were having a difficult time trying to reset the fracture-dislocation,” said Denton.

Denton stated that fatal reactions have been reported from the anesthetic Novocain.

Patton said Friday the coroner’s office review “has made me feel better, but there’s still questions that weren’t answered.”

Patton and her sister, Lisa Rhodes, said in January they have harbored doubts about the cause of their brother’s death for many years. Kimmerling agreed to ask Denton to ex-examine the cause of death and autopsy report.

The coroner said the county incurred no expenses related to the review. Denton did the review free of charge.

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Reader comments on this story - 12 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

it wrote on Feb 23, 2008 9:30 PM:

" wasnt free to exhume this body, nor to re-bury him "

Frank wrote on Feb 23, 2008 11:02 AM:

" Closure for who??? Closure for the sister who "years later began to question the cause of death?" Is that who needed closure? Shame on her for dragging her sister and her family through the mud and implying that this child died from abuse! "

Closure wrote on Feb 23, 2008 7:46 AM:

" Hopefully the family can have closure and healing with this. Sounds as if maybe it is not the best of situation but glad to hear it was not abuse..... "

It does happen..... wrote on Feb 23, 2008 6:15 AM:

" Over 35 years ago, I had an allergic reaction to the anesthetic, and thanks to the quick reaction of the anesthesiologist (sp), I am alive today. Today, there is a test to check you, but back then, there was not. If this doctor had not noticed that I was in trouble, I would have just died, and almost did. So, it does happen, as I am sure it did in this case. Glad for the mother that it is over and she can have some peace. "

To the Gordon Family wrote on Feb 22, 2008 11:41 PM:

" I'm sorry you all had to go through this again. My condolences to all of you. I've known of Nancy and Harold since I was 14 years old and they have been great parents. I know their other son very well. "

Ryan wrote on Feb 22, 2008 10:05 PM:

" Sorry, my bad (very bad), you're all right, I should have read the whole thing, my apologies. There's something you don't see everyday, someone admitting a mistake on these boards. "

Finally wrote on Feb 22, 2008 9:47 PM:

" Ive been waiting since 1969 to find this out..... "

Read Ryan wrote on Feb 22, 2008 9:01 PM:

" Read the whole article Ryan. The coroner said the county incurred no expenses related to the review. Denton did the review free of charge. Obviously another person that is unhappy with his life and just wants to hate on people. I could think of far worse was to spend tax money. Garbage? Allowing someone to receive closure finally after 39 year? Abviously we have different opinions on the word garbage. Put yourself in that woman's shoes. I bet you'd have a different opinion of garbage. "

To Ryan wrote on Feb 22, 2008 8:26 PM:

" If your going to comment on the article, read it to the end. The last sentence states the county incurred no expenses and Dr. Denton reviewed the case free of charge. Therefore your tax dollars were not used. "

duh wrote on Feb 22, 2008 7:57 PM:

" If you would read the complete story the final sentence says "The coroner said the county incurred no expenses related to the review. Denton did the review free of charge". Don't be a hater! "

To: Ryan wrote on Feb 22, 2008 7:33 PM:

" Maybe you should read the article before jumping to conclusions. I hope you don't vote. We need voters who are informed to determine the course of America's future. Too many ignorant people voted in 2000 and 2004. "

Ryan wrote on Feb 22, 2008 7:09 PM:

" I hope someone runs against Beth Kimmerling. I'm sick of her wasting my tax money on garbage like this. "
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