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The Case of Jennifer Del Prete
📻 Episode #357
🎙️ Hosted by Jason Flom
📅 May 11, 2023
About This Episode
In December of 2002, a mother dropped off her 3 month old daughter, I.Z., at daycare in Romeoville, IL. Jennifer Del Prete was working at the daycare center and later that day, Jennifer noticed that the girl was not breathing so she called 911. I.Z. died almost a full year later. The state hypothesized that…
The Case
In December of 2002, a mother dropped off her 3 month old daughter, I.Z., at daycare in Romeoville, IL. Jennifer Del Prete was working at the daycare center and later that day, Jennifer noticed that the girl was not breathing so she called 911. I.Z. died almost a full year later. The state hypothesized that I.Z. died of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS). Since Jennifer was providing care for I.Z. on the day she initially showed medical issues, Jennifer was charged and convicted of murder. Since Jennifer’s conviction, the validity of many SBS diagnoses has been questioned both in and out of the courtroom. In addition, evidence has been uncovered that some of the original medical experts in the case did not actually believe that the child died of SBS. Jason talks to Jennifer Del Prete and Pat Blegen, Jennifer's attorney.
https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/172-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-shaken-baby-syndrome/
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In Their Own Words — transcript excerpts
Short excerpts from the episode's official published transcript, with timestamps — listen from these moments, or read the full transcript via the podcast's own platforms.
00:04:58“Speaker 2: in Romeoville that was a daycare already. She remembered me Speaker 2: working with children back in the room mom days and Speaker 2: thought of me, so she asked me if i'd work Speaker 2: at the daycare. But I didn't want to leave the Speaker 2: library because I loved it, so I did both.”
00:19:53“Speaker 3: So you know, they presented the family members of Isazi, Speaker 3: they presented some of the treating physicians. They presented the Speaker 3: testimony of Detective Kroll, who put in this supposed confession. Speaker 1: Right the interrogation in which she said quote slight shake, Speaker 1: which was good enough for their trickery at the grand”
00:35:21“Speaker 1: you were released on bond on April thirtieth, twenty fourteen, Speaker 1: released in this sort of limbo to await a potential retrial. Speaker 2: It was a wonderful day, But then I had to Speaker 2: I wasn't really free. I couldn't leave the state. I Speaker 2: missed my brother's wedding in California because the judge wouldn't”
Listen to the Episode
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← #356 False Confessions - Peter Reilly #358 False Confessions - Dixmoor 5 →
Also on the podcast: #453 Jennifer McMullan at the 2024 Innocence Conference