Bellingham toddler Hazel Homan’s death officially ruled a homicide by medical examiner
The late-November death of Bellingham toddler Hazel Journey Homan has been ruled a homicide by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office.
In addition to ruling the 3-year-old’s Nov. 30 manner of death a homicide, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office said Wednesday, Jan. 23, that Hazel’s cause of death was blunt force injury to the head.
The medical examiner’s office had previously not released a cause or manner pending an investigation. The medical examiner’s office declined Wednesday to share what date the determinations about Hazel’s cause and manner of death were made.
Whatcom County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Erik Sigmar declined to comment Wednesday about the determinations.
Whatcom County Superior Court records show Hazel allegedly suffered a repeated pattern of abuse in the last six months of her life at the hands of 27-year-old Kamee Nicole Dixon. The toddler allegedly suffered broken bones, bruises and burns while being cared for by Dixon.
Dixon, of Bellingham, was formally charged Dec. 9 with second-degree murder and homicide by abuse for Hazel’s death, according to court records. The homicide by abuse charge incorporates the past alleged abuse.
Dixon pleaded not guilty to the charges Dec. 13. Her jury trial is tentatively scheduled for March 16. Dixon is currently incarcerated in the Whatcom County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail.
“It is important to distinguish that a medical examiner finding a cause of death of blunt force trauma does not mean Ms. Dixon is guilty of homicide. The reports from law enforcement, and the information from medical professionals, have repeatedly been inconsistent in cause-of-death and injuries sustained by Hazel Homan. The investigation is ongoing,” said Emily Beschen, one of Dixon’s defense attorneys.
Dixon was not Hazel’s biological mother, but was in an “engaged” relationship with Hazel’s biological father, Brandon Homan. Dixon was Hazel’s primary caregiver while Homan was at work, including on the day of the incident that led to Hazel’s death, according to court records.
Hazel was taken into protective custody by Child Protective Services in November 2017 and placed with Homan’s mother. In June 2019, Hazel was returned to Homan’s custody, the court records state.
Hazel’s death
At 9:17 a.m. on Nov. 27, Bellingham police were called to the 2100 block of Texas Street for the report of a pediatric cardiac arrest. Police were told by Dixon that Hazel had choked on food and lost consciousness, court records state.
Hazel was taken to St. Joseph hospital where she was diagnosed with a brain bleed and hypothermia — her body temperature was approximately 86 degrees, court records show. Bellingham police observed Hazel had multiple bruises on her body and at least one cigarette burn, court records state.
Hazel was transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment. On Nov. 29, a child abuse pediatrician told Bellingham police Hazel suffered a brain hemorrhage as a result of “shaken baby syndrome,” there was no evidence of choking, and they suspected physical abuse, court records state.
A day later, Hazel was declared legally brain dead.
“The Shaken Baby Syndrome diagnosis has been under increasing scrutiny over the past decade. It has been used in courts to send numerous innocent people to prison. We ask the community to refrain from passing judgment on Ms. Dixon until they have all of the facts,” Beschen, one of Dixon’s defense attorneys, told The Bellingham Herald in a previous statement.
Dixon’s defense attorneys have filed several motions to compel interviews of key witnesses. A hearing was held Jan. 21 to determine whether those interviews would be compelled, but the court records from the hearing were not immediately available Wednesday.
According to charging papers, a skeletal survey conducted by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Hazel had a broken finger, wrist, knee and hip bone, court records state. But in a motion filed in late December, Beschen states that the medical claims stating Hazel had suffered broken bones and burns in the six months prior to her death are not accurate.
According to Beschen’s motion, when the child abuse pediatrician contacted Bellingham police about the suspected abuse, the doctor told officers that she wasn’t able to make a determination about when the breaks of the finger and wrist had occurred. The doctor also stated that the breaks to Hazel’s knee and hip bones didn’t appear to be real, court records state.
Beschen’s motion also states that no medical records provided to defense have included an examination where a cigarette burn was found on Hazel’s body.
Resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault, you can contact the following local resources for free, confidential support:
▪ Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services: 24-hour Help Line: 360-715-1563, Email: info@dvsas.org.
▪ Lummi Victims of Crime: 360-312-2015.
▪ Bellingham Police: You can call anonymously at 360-778-8611, or go online at cob.org/tips.
▪ WWU Consultation and Sexual Assault Support Survivor Advocacy Services: 360-650-3700 or wp.wwu.edu/sexualviolence/.
▪ Brigid Collins Family Support Center: 360-734-4616, brigidcollins.org.
This story was originally published January 23, 2020 at 3:37 PM.
