REMEMBERING MADILYNE

Madilyne Christine Wentz was ten months old. Her mother, Rachel, would spend years after her death making sure her daughter was remembered. Madilyne became part of a larger effort to bring attention to babies and children who suffered abusive head trauma. Her name was carried at awareness events and included alongside other children whose families wanted the world to understand the devastating consequences of violently shaking an infant. But before Madilyne became a name associated with awareness, she was simply Rachel’s baby girl. She was approaching her first birthday. There should have been a cake. A first birthday photograph. More milestones. Instead, Madilyne suffered a catastrophic brain injury while at an in home daycare. She never came home.

MADILYNE’S STORY

On April 12, 2005, Madilyne was in the care of Melinda Bautista, who operated an in home daycare near Altus, Oklahoma. Madilyne became critically ill while at the daycare. According to investigators and prosecutors, Bautista told authorities that Madilyne had been irritable and crying that afternoon. The prosecution alleged that Bautista shook Madilyne until the baby lost consciousness. Madilyne was rushed for emergency medical treatment. Her condition was grave. She was eventually transported to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, where doctors fought to save her. Madilyne had suffered devastating brain injuries. She remained alive for two days. On April 14, 2005, ten month old Madilyne Christine Wentz died. Investigators treated her death as a homicide. Bautista was arrested and charged with first degree murder. What followed was a heavily contested criminal case over precisely what had caused Madilyne’s fatal injuries and whether the state could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Bautista was criminally responsible.

THE INVESTIGATION AND MEDICAL EVIDENCE

Investigators obtained a recorded interview with Bautista. The prosecution contended that her statements supported its allegation that Madilyne had been violently shaken. At trial, prosecutors presented medical testimony intended to show that Madilyne’s brain injuries were consistent with abusive shaking. The state medical examiner who performed Madilyne’s autopsy testified during the trial. But his credibility became a significant issue. The defense challenged both the medical evidence and the prosecution’s interpretation of Bautista’s statements. Jurors heard conflicting evidence about how Madilyne’s injuries occurred. The defense argued that the state had not proven that Bautista murdered her. The prosecution maintained that Madilyne had suffered fatal injuries while in Bautista’s care and that Bautista was responsible. Ultimately, twelve jurors were asked to decide whether the evidence established murder beyond a reasonable doubt.

JUSTICE FOR MADILYNE

Melinda Bautista was charged with first degree murder in Madilyne’s death. Her trial began in March 2006. Prosecutors presented evidence that Madilyne had suffered fatal brain injuries while in Bautista’s care and relied in part upon statements Bautista made during the investigation.nThe defense vigorously challenged the medical evidence and the credibility of the state’s witnesses. On April 4, 2006, the case went to the jury. After deliberating, the jury returned its verdict. Melinda Bautista was found not guilty of murdering Madilyne. She was acquitted.nThat verdict is an important part of Madilyne’s story and must be stated accurately. An acquittal does not determine exactly what happened to Madilyne. It means prosecutors did not persuade the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that Bautista was criminally guilty of the charged offense. No murder conviction resulted from Madilyne’s death.

Melinda Bautista

Relationship to Madilyne: Daycare provider

Charge: First degree murder

Sentence: None

FOREVER REMEMBERED

Madilyne Christine Wentz was ten months old when her life ended. The criminal trial ended without a conviction. Her mother’s love for her did not end with the verdict.

Rachel continued speaking Madilyne’s name. She became involved with families affected by shaken baby syndrome and helped raise awareness so that other parents might never experience what her family endured. Years later, Rachel wrote that Madilyne’s voice would never be silenced. That may be one of the most important things we can preserve about this little girl. A jury verdict became part of Madilyne’s story. It was never the entirety of her story. Madilyne was somebody’s daughter.

She was loved before the courtroom existed. She remained loved after everyone left it. She was just weeks away from turning one. She deserved that first birthday and every birthday that should have followed it. Abuse Angels remembers Madilyne Christine Wentz. Remembered. Honored. Never Forgotten.