Experts disagree
over child’s death

It is unclear whether Natasha
Faufata was suffocated,
says a medical examiner

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By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

Two-year-old Natasha Faufata had been abused, but there was no evidence that she had been suffocated, according to the city's chief medical examiner.

Dr. Kanthi Von Guenthner took the stand for the defense yesterday in the murder trial of the Palolo toddler who died in March 1994.

Her testimony countered the findings of pediatric pathologist Janice Ophoven, who testified for the state last week and concluded the tot likely died because she was suffocated.

On trial for second-degree murder by omission is the toddler's mother, Dorothy Marie Faufata, and her boyfriend David Martinez. Martinez is also accused of inflicting the fatal injury that caused the child's death.

Martinez, who was with the tot when she allegedly lost consciousness, had said she apparently choked on a doughnut.

Von Guenthner conducted the child's autopsy in March 1994 and concluded that although Natasha died of swelling to the brain due to lack of oxygen, she could not determine what caused it.

Asphyxiation could be caused in several ways, including suffocation, drowning, hanging or choking, she said.

While it's possible the child could have been suffocated, there was no evidence on the body or through the investigation that conclusively showed that had occurred, Von Guenthner said.

Ophoven had testified that because there was no trauma to the brain that could have explained the swelling, there is no other reasonable explanation for her death other than suffocation.

While the child had a fractured forearm and bruises on her body, the only injuries Von Guenthner could definitely conclude were intentionally caused were cigarette burns in various stages of healing on the child's palm, finger, elbow and soles of her feet.

She did not agree with Ophoven's characterization of Natasha as a "battered child," saying that although she had been abused, not all her injuries were definitely inflicted.

Bruises on her forehead and lower back could have been sustained through the normal "wear-and-tear" of a 2-year-old and were not specific indications of child abuse, Von Guenthner said.

She also could not determine whether the horizontal fracture in the child's forearm was caused intentionally or accidentally. She noted it was not the type of fracture that would have been sustained had the child been shaken or had her arm twisted, she said.

While she found no bruises to the child's lips, mouth or tissue attached to the gum that could indicate pressure placed on the lips, absence of those injuries does not necessarily exclude smothering, she said.

Based on results of lab tests done at the hospital and the autopsy, Von Guenthner estimated the child's brain had been swelling less than 18 hours prior.

Damage to the muscle cells, liver cells and other organs were consistent with oxygen being cut off at least two hours prior to the tests being conducted, she said.