DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- The investigation into the death of a baby who authorities believe was heated in a microwave oven was difficult because of a lack of research on the effect of microwaves on people, a coroner's official said.

China Arnold, 26, was jailed Monday on a charge of aggravated murder, more than a year after she brought her dead month-old baby to a hospital on August 30, 2005, police said.

"We have reason to believe, and we have some forensic evidence that is consistent with our belief, that a microwave oven was used in this death," said Ken Betz, director of the Montgomery County coroner's office.

He said the evidence included high-heat internal injuries and the absence of external burn marks on the baby, Paris Talley.

That conclusion is supported by the Dayton police investigation, he said.

The death was ruled a homicide caused by hyperthermia, or high body temperature. The lack of external burns ruled out an open flame, scalding water, heating pad or other possible cause of death that would have damaged the skin, Betz said.

Arnold's lawyer, Jon Paul Rion, said she had nothing to do with her daughter's death. She was stunned when investigators told her that a microwave might have been involved, he said. (Watch the mother weep during her court hearing Video)

"China -- as a mother and a person -- was horrified that such an act could occur," Rion said.

Arnold was arrested initially after the baby's death, then released.

There was a lengthy investigation before prosecutors found enough probable cause to issue another arrest warrant, said Greg Flannagan, a spokesman for the county prosecutor's office.

A microwave was taken as evidence, police Sgt. Gary White said.

Municipal Judge Bill Littlejohn set Arnold's bond Tuesday at $1 million. Arnold participated in the hearing from the county jail by a video hookup, giving "yes" and "no" answers to procedural questions. She declined interviews through her attorney, who said his client plans to plead not guilty.

In 2000, a Virginia woman was sentenced to five years in prison for killing her month-old son in a microwave oven.

Nerve damage can occur quickly with microwave injuries, said Louis Bloomfield, a professor of physics at the University of Virginia.

The ovens' electromagnetic waves cook primarily through the presence of water in food, the water molecules heating up as they are twisted back and forth about 2.5 billion times a second, he said.

The night before Paris Talley was taken to the hospital, Arnold and the child's father went out for a short time and left Paris with a baby sitter, Rion said.

The mother didn't sense anything out of the ordinary until the next morning, when the child was found unconscious, Rion said.

The baby's father, Terrell Talley, said his daughter was fine when he and Arnold arrived home after leaving her in the care of the baby sitter, his sister.

"When I went in the house, my baby was sitting in the car seat, she was asleep and she was alive," he said. "The baby sitter ain't had nothing to do with it."

His sister, Lionda Talley, did not return a call for comment.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/L...rowave.ap/
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I saw this on Nancy Grace the other night. This sounds like it came straight from a horror movie. That has got to be the worst way to die.

"The baby sitter ain't had nothing to do with it."

This is beyond horrific!!!

UCantHavaDaMango said:

Inhuman and unreal

SpisaRibb said:

I'm going to pray for you.

FunkMistress said:

It's gonna take more than prayers I'm afraid

I'm still in shock over this.

just when i thought i heard it all. WTF is wrong with people?

this is up there with the miserable excuse for a human being using a newborn as a weapon in a domestic dispute with their partner.

I am speechless

i....can't..
wow.

that's just fucking SICK.

ZombieKitten said:

I know that goes against all motherly instincts but considering that she got her ass beat I'd hope that it was really only within the context of abuse that she would ever have done that.....

AnckSuNamun said:

The story's horrific enough but how on earth can any justice system justify such a short sentence for a crime such as this? What is the world coming to

Beyond disgusting

There's going to be a very special place in hell for her.

I considered posting this..


But it was just too painful

You know, just when I think I've heard the most horrific shit on the planet somebody comes along & tops it. This is so fucking terrible/shocking/evil as fuck/awful. I'm fucking welling up right now for the life of that baby, it's just unspeakable... the kind of shit people are capable of...

Murderess ... obviously without a conscience! The actions people think escape of their responsibilities -- this is horrible!

What's wrong with these fucking people!!!!

If you don't want kids STOP HAVING UNPROTECTED SEX YOU DUMB FUCKS!!!!

I wouldn't argue with anyone over the horrific circumstances of this baby's death, but the mother is mentally ill. There is no such thing as evil, just your perception of what you can't or won't understand. Saying there's a 'special place in hell' and other silly reactionary bullshit brings you down to the level of the perpitrator in my eyes. Her actions need to be fully understood before any judgement can be made.

Number23 said:

Yeah, well you're more merciful than I am...

CalhounSq said:

THIS IS FUCKING DISGUSTING.

'dre

PurpleKnight said:

how could someone possibly do something like that?
I hope she gets the help she deserves.

are you saying become a vigilante?
[Edited 12/3/06 1:39am]

I've just seen this... and I feel sick and disgusted

there are just no words...

Number23 said:

In this case I think that mental illness is involved.....but I wouldn't wouldn't attach a mental illness label to every murder case out there. Many things come into play when people kill other than insanity.....drugs, money, jealousy etc.

the mother should FRY....

nuff said....