Killer mum who blamed family dog for adopted daughter’s ‘car crash’ injuries is GUILTY of murder
A MUM who blamed the family dog for her adopted daughter’s “car crash” injuries has been found guilty of murder.
Katie Tidmarsh, 39, attacked little Ruby Thompson by shaking her so hard she never regained consciousness.
The one-year-old died in hospital from a blunt force impact to the back of the head after suffering catastrophic brain damage.
Ruby also had two different fractures on her arms as her injuries were likened to those seen in a car crash.
Tidmarsh has now been found guilty of murder and inflicting grievous bodily harm – ten years on from the baby’s death.
Leicester Crown Court heard how Ruby had been placed in foster care after her birth in July 2011.
In March the following year, Tidmarsh and her partner began the process of adopting the youngster.
On August 11, 2012, the mum made a 999 call saying Ruby was not breathing and had suffered a seizure.
After the tot was rushed to hospital, medics found she had a broken bone in her arm she’d suffered around two weeks before.
At the time, Tidmarsh blamed one of her dogs for the injury.
Tragically, Ruby couldn’t be saved and died two days later from “severe traumatic injuries”.
The grim catalogue included a large, star-shaped fracture on the back of her skull, bleeding in her brain and in her spinal canal.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Sinski, who was the senior investigating Officer, said: “It has taken over ten years to get this case to court and reach a successful guilty verdict.
“We never lost hope in seeking justice for Ruby and the absolute determination and commitment from the investigation and prosecution team has been undeniably vital in today’s result.
“The evidence presented to the court, evidence from some of top medical experts in their respective fields, proved that Ruby’s head injury was caused by shaking and a high-energy impact and not from a low fall on to a thick rug as Tidmarsh had claimed.
“Tidmarsh has evaded justice since 2012 and will now be facing a lengthy sentence for her actions in taking the life of a young child, a child who was placed in her care to give her what was believed to be a better life.
“This has clearly been a very sad and tragic case and on reaching this verdict, I hope that Ruby can finally rest in peace.”
Tidmarsh will be sentenced at Leicester Crown Court tomorrow.