The investigation into the death of an infant that has been determined to be a homicide by the Division of Forensic Sciences — the state crime lab — of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation may lead to a presentation before the Murray County grand jury soon, a court officer said.

Jaidyn Alexis Whaley, four-and-a-half months old, was taken to Murray Medical Center on Nov. 17, 2010, by her father, Isaac Whaley, and the infant’s death occurred two days later, said Murray County Coroner Larry Ballew at the time.

An eight-page autopsy report dated June 13, 2011, procured by The Daily Citizen through an open records request details in an “opinion” section that the cause of Jaidyn Whaley’s death was “traumatic head injury” and the manner of death as “homicide.” The report is signed by Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Lora Darrisaw.

The section states the white female infant was “presented unconscious” at Murray Medical Center. In November 2010, Murray 911 Director Peggy Vick said Isaac Whaley called dispatch from a residence at 509 G.I. Maddox Parkway in the early afternoon of Nov. 17 but took the child to the hospital before emergency personnel arrived.

“(Jaidyn Whaley) was subsequently transferred to T.C. Thompson Medical Center (in Chattanooga) and had a fatal outcome despite medical therapeutic intervention,” the report states, adding, “The cause of death is certified as traumatic head injury. The autopsy discloses intracranial hemorrhage, extensive retinal hemorrhage, cerebral edema and traumatic brain injury ... cervical spinal cord soft tissue hemorrhage (is also identified).”

The report notes there is an “absence of a natural disease process and a reported accidental trauma event that accounts for these neuropathologic findings ... a constellation of findings is consistent with accelerated rotational (shaking) mechanism of the head trauma. A focus of occipital scalp hemorrhage represents a probable blunt force component.”

District Attorney Kermit McManus said the GBI office in Calhoun is “much involved” in the case.

“The next step in the process would be presentation of the case to a grand jury in Murray County,” he said. “The next time they meet is Jan. 16.”

Jerry Scott, agent-in-charge of the GBI office in Calhoun, was asked about the length of the investigation.

“We generally don’t put time limits on any of our cases, quite honestly, none whatsoever,” he said.

Scott was asked if the investigation is nearing an end.

“We’ve done the majority of it, there may be some loose ends to tie up,” he replied. “But I think the majority of the case is complete and put together. Number one, with a death case there’s no statute of limitations, and two, we don’t rush them generally. But I think the majority of the case work on this one has been done. I don’t know what Kermit has in mind ... that’s really not our decision what goes to a grand jury and when it goes. That’s purely the prosecutor’s decision.”

Is there a time frame?

“No, we don’t do a time frame,” he answered. “The only time we would do a time frame is if there was a statute of limitations involved. Typically, in a death case there’s not.”

McManus was asked if the case will be ready for the grand jury on Jan. 16.

“All I can tell you is that’s the next available date,” he said, declining to elaborate.

A phone number for Isaac Whaley could not be found.

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