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An Orem man accused of killing a 13-month-old boy pleaded not guilty on Friday.
Police arrested Christopher Scott Thunborg, 22, in March after he called 911 to report that 13-month-old Austin Pettersson wasn't breathing, according to Orem police. Paramedics responded to the apartment Thunborg shared with the baby's mother at 1363 S. 400 West, and found the baby in his crib. Pettersson was pronounced dead at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo.
On Friday, Thunborg waived his right to a preliminary hearing and entered not guilty pleas to child abuse homicide and obstruction of justice. A trial, expected to take five days, was scheduled to begin Dec. 8 at 8:30 a.m. A pool of sixty potential jurors was requested because the case has been in the media and because some potential jurors are expected to have strong feelings about the subject matter of the case.
In addition, a pretrial conference will be held on Nov. 21 at 1:30 p.m.
An autopsy of Pettersson revealed internal injuries that were indicative of blunt force trauma, including a lacerated stomach and injuries to the bowels, according to police. Officers also noted bruising on Pettersson's back and stomach that seemed suspicious. Thunborg told officers that he tripped and fell while carrying the child, which police said was inconsistent with Pettersson's injuries. Orem police Lt. Doug Edwards has said the injuries were more consistent with striking or hitting the child.
Thunborg's girlfriend, Whitney Pettersson, 19, was working a graveyard shift while he cared for the child. Both worked at the Utah State Developmental Center in American Fork, police said.
Several witnesses reported hearing the baby crying loudly around midnight, police said, as did a roommate of Thunborg and Pettersson. But the roommate said she knew that the baby had been sick and fussy that night, so she pulled a pillow over her head and went back to sleep.
When Whitney Pettersson arrived home from work later in the morning, Thunborg told her that the baby wasn't breathing and called 911. Edwards said Whitney Pettersson and the roommate are not under suspicion of any crimes. |
