Coroner’s office says 31/2-week-old girl died of burns from microwave

DAYTON — A 26-year-old mother was arrested Monday by Dayton police in the homicide of her 3½-week-old daughter, Paris Talley, on Aug. 30, 2005, a death officials said they believe was caused when the child was burned in a microwave oven.

China Arnold was picked up at her house, 3612 E. Second St., about 2:30 p.m. on a warrant for a charge of aggravated murder, Sgt. Gary White said. Arnold was taken to the Montgomery County Jail. The warrant was issued last week.

Ken Betz, director of the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office, said, "We have reason to believe and scientific evidence to support that a microwave oven might have been involved in the death of this child." The cause of death was ruled a homicide at the time, by hyperthermia due to thermal injury.

The baby’s death was only the second on record in the nation believed caused by microwave oven. A 20-year-old Virginia mother was convicted of involuntary manslaughter on Sept. 26, 2000, in the death of her 5-week-old son.

"That’s what made this case so difficult," Betz said. "We’re in an area where there’s not a lot of scientific research on the effect of microwave on human beings."

Additional evidence recently came to light that helped prosecutors approve the arrest warrant, he said. "There were no external signs, like scalding water."

White said the mother had custody at the time of Paris’ death. When Arnold brought her to Children’s Medical Center on Aug. 30, 2005, "the baby was dead. The investigation commenced at that point," he said.

"The police department is satisfied we’ve helped bring some justice so far to Paris’ homicide," White said.

What we know about the mother and father of the infant Paris Talley:

 The mother has three other children by different men

The mother has a criminal history

The mother and father had been out drinking prior to the father finding the child dead

The mother claims she doesn’t remember anything after she returned home from drinking

The mother didn’t bother to check on her 28 days old baby when she returned home from drinking, though she claims she doesn’t remember anything when she did return home

The father has a criminal history

Possible scenarios:

The father who most likely has other children didn’t want to be strapped financially with another child; assuming the father actually did financially support the child/his children. Highly doubtful the criminal father did much besides produce unwanted children and commit crimes.

The mother having three children already didn’t want to be strapped with another child.

 Regardless of why, whoever did this diabolical act must be removed from society forever.