By Chuck Hustmyre
February 26, 2007
BOULDER, Colo. (Crime Library) — Saturday was an anniversary of sorts. It marked exactly one year since Jason Midyette's parents carried the battered and broken 10-week-old into a hospital emergency room.
When he first came through the doors of Boulder Community Hospital, Jason looked so pathetic that nurse Elaine Rottinghaus called 911. She asked the operator to send the police. A two-month-old baby had just come into the ER, she said, having suffered what the nurse described as "significant abuse."
 |
| Thomas Faure |
After 27 years of emergency room nursing, of taking care of the sick, the severely injured, and the dying, Elaine Rottinghaus had seen some bad things, but Jason's injuries shocked even her. The veteran nurse later described his medical condition as one of the worst she'd ever seen.
Jason had 27 broken bones, a fractured skull, and a bleeding brain.
According to a police affidavit, the first emergency room physician to treat Jason later told investigators there was "no doubt the injuries were caused by non-accidental trauma."
Jason's parents, Alex and Molly Midyette, claimed not to know what had happened to their son. One nurse recalled hearing them say that during a bath earlier that day Jason had a seizure.
 |
| Molly and Alex Midyette |
When a police officer arrived at the hospital, Alex and Molly refused to speak to him about their son. Alex's brother became so hostile that the officer had to call for back up.
Minutes later, the Midyettes' lawyer arrived at the emergency room and all contact between the family and the police stopped.
Jason Midyette died a week later.
In March his parents hired an additional lawyer.
Alex Midyette is the son of prominent Boulder architect J. Nold Midyette, who, through his company Pearl Street Mall Properties, owns a chunk of downtown Boulder worth an estimated $80 million.
Next Page
Jason Midyette Full Coverage & Breaking News
Jason Midyette Autopsy reports
Discussion Forum
For more daily crime news
default
increase
decrease
email
print
