Disturbing details revealed in 9 year old’s death
Photo by Harrisburg Police
(Harrisburg) — Dauphin County Magisterial Judge Barbara Piankais ruling there’s enough evidence to start a trial against the parents of a 9 year old who died in July of starvation and maltreatment.
Pianka, who teared up at the sight of a picture of Jerrod Tutko Jr.’s decomposed body, also ordered Kimberly and Jerrod Tutko Sr. to be held without bail.
Harrisburg police detective Rodney Shoeman testified he found no working air conditioning or lights, and feces covering the walls and TV screen in the 3rd floor room where Jerrod Tutko Jr.reportedly died.
Sean McCormack, lead attorney in the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Child Abuse Unit,says Kimberly Tutko also told detectives she called a therapist first, not 911.
“There’s a lot to this case, there’s not any one factor that anything is going to hinge on here,” he says.
Both parents are charged with criminal homicide in the 9 year old’s death.
“This certainly ranks as one of those cases that is disturbing, any person that would say otherwise that you would see…I was at the scene on August 1st so I saw the house, I was at autopsy so I saw these things,” adds McCormack.
Tutko Jr. had been diagnosed with Fragile X, the most common cause of autism.
His parents are next due in Dauphin County court December 19th.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
