Stepfather denies
responsibility
in girl’s death

The 22-month-old was fine when
he put her in bed, he testifies

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By Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.com

The stepfather of 22-month-old Kareatha Gray took the witness stand and denied he ever did anything to the girl to cause her death 16 years ago.

Vern King, who divorced Kareatha's mother, Beverly Kelly, two years later, is on trial for second-degree murder in the toddler's death.

King said yesterday that when Tripler Hospital doctors informed him and his wife that Kareatha had died, "I was in shock.

"I mean, I couldn't believe it. ... Only an hour or so earlier, she's having dinner," King testified. "I couldn't find any explanation for what happened."

Kareatha was fine earlier that day, he said during questioning by the state.

The state believes King suffocated his daughter while her mother had gone on a short errand the night of May 8, 1985. The defense contends King did nothing to harm or cause the girl's death.

King and Kareatha were both eating dinner when Kelly left. By the time Kelly returned, about 30 to 40 minutes later, King said he already had put the girl to bed.

King said he cleaned up Kareatha after they ate dinner, and he washed dishes while she played in the living room. They both watched TV for a few minutes before Kareatha lay down. She indicated she was sleepy, so King said he took her upstairs to change her into her nightclothes before putting her to bed.

He was in the kitchen when his wife returned home. After asking him where Kareatha was, Kelly went upstairs, and a few minutes passed before he heard her calling him in an excited tone.

Kelly was on her knees next to the bed and told him to look at Kareatha.

Kareatha appeared pale and was warm to the touch, but she was limp when he picked her up, King said.

He said he tried to perform CPR and told Kelly to call an ambulance before eventually deciding to drive to the hospital. An ambulance pulled in as they were about to leave.

Deputy prosecutor Maurice Arrisgado questioned King about statements he made to investigators about Kareatha making a sound like she was going to throw up.

King said he meant Kareatha had burped or belched, and it was not unusual for her to do that after each meal. He denied the prosecutor's suggestion that Kareatha had vomited as the reason why he had to wipe her mouth and hands.

Arrisgado's questioning suggested Kareatha's vomiting had made King angry, the first time a motive has been raised in the trial.

The trial is expected to close tomorrow.