As discussed in the previous two posts, sometimes people can be wrongfully accused of child abuse, sexual assault and homicide because of flaws in the death investigation and misinterpretation of medical evidence gathered. According to an ongoing investigation by ProPublica, NPR and other news organizations into the death investigation system in the U.S., at least 23 people in the U.S. and Canada have been accused falsely of killing children.

The man discussed in the previous post who had his conviction for the sexual assault of a six-month-old girl he was babysitting voided by an appeals court will face another trial. The baby died shortly after prosecutors allege the assault happened.

The man was serving a 60-year sentence when his conviction was voided. Other medical experts have stepped forward with his new defense attorneys to say that it is more likely that a blood disorder caused the baby's fatal signs and symptoms that were taken for child abuse.

As discussed in the previous post, one woman in California is hoping that Governor Jerry Brown will grant her clemency before she has to return to prison for a conviction for shaking her grandson to death. In the years since her conviction, the science around "shaken baby syndrome" has become more controversial as it has been found that other diseases in childhood may cause the signs of child abuse. Any updates in this case will be added to the blog.

Source: ProPublica, "Ernie Lopez to Face Charges Again," A.C. Thompson, Jan. 27, 2012