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Thursday, October 11, 2007

DA Readies Charges in Baby's Death

By Laura Nesbitt
Mountain View Telegraph
    The district attorney was reviewing the findings of an investigation by the Torrance County sheriff Wednesday in preparation for filing charges against Diana Willis, a woman whose 15-month-old baby was found dead last month after a 36-hour search near Encino.
    "The sheriff will put together information including charges," District Attorney Clint Wellborn said.
    Wellborn said he planned to make a determination soon.
    Wellborn said he has been considering a charge of child abuse resulting in unintentional death, which is a first-degree felony that carries a possibility of 18 years of imprisonment.
    The body of Richie Willis was found Sept. 26 in a field south of Encino. The search for the child began when sheriff's deputies received a phone call from a truck driver who reported seeing a naked woman wandering down U.S. 60 near Encino, holding a child in her arms. Willis was found several hours later but the baby was not with her at that time.
    Sheriff Clarence Gibson told the Torrance County Commission Wednesday that he had been on the phone for several hours with the state Office of the Medical Investigator. Gibson was not available for further comment.
    "Dr. Ian Paul conducted the autopsy," said Tim Stepetic, associate director for OMI.
    Stepetic confirmed that the death certificate for Richie Willis has been signed. The baby's death was caused by "environmental cold exposure" and the toxicology report stated that the baby's body contained no drugs or alcohol, Stepetic said.
    Willis could be released from Anna Kaseman Hospital in Albuquerque as soon as Friday, according to Wellborn.
    Because Willis has retained a New Mexico attorney, Wellborn does not believe that she will leave the state.
    Assisting in the search were State Police, including a helicopter with infrared capabilities, the National Guard, Santa Rosa Police, several news helicopters and Search and Rescue teams from Alamogordo and Torrance County.