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The tragic death of 16-month-old Benjamin Kingan in January 2009 has left a haunting legacy, marked by details that continue to provoke discussion and debate. Melissa Calusinski, a daycare worker, was convicted of his murder, but the circumstances surrounding the case remain deeply troubling.
She is serving her sentence of 31 years for murdering Benjamin Kingan, an act she said she didn't commit in a videotaped interview from jail. With sixteen years down in prison, she is now hoping that Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker grants her clemency.
She has recently gained renewed attention because of the appearance of her case in the 48 Hours segment titled Unraveling the Case Against Melissa. It will air on CBS this Saturday, January 18, 2025.
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That segment features some new evidence and new interviews that may add some clarity as to what was happening at the time of the conviction. Her case has highlighted wrongful convictions, especially confessions under duress.
Five details about Benjamin Kingan's murder
1) The mysterious skull injury
According to CBS News, Benjamin Kingan's autopsy showed extensive internal bleeding along with a very severe skull fracture, indicating he had been badly injured violently, likely just before his death. According to Dr. Eupil Choi, a pathologist, injuries were consistent with significant force, and there were no external wounds or cuts on Benjamin Kingan's body.
According to CBS News, this immediately raised questions about how such severe damage could occur internally without any signs of external trauma. The nature of the injury made the investigators believe that it was caused by another person, and this heightened the scrutiny on Calusinski, who was alone with him at the daycare at the time.
2) The confession under alleged duress
According to CBS News, on January 14, 2009, when Benjamin Kingan was pronounced dead, police brought Calusinski in for questioning. In nine hours of intense interrogation, she denied any wrongdoing more than 60 times. However, allegedly under extreme pressure and in the absence of legal counsel, she confessed to throwing Benjamin to the ground while feeling frustrated.
According to CBS News, this confession became a point of great contention in her case. Calusinski later alleged that her confession was coerced and she felt it was the only way out of that interrogation room.
3) No witnesses
According to ABC 7 Chicago, on the day that Benjamin Kingan died, Calusinski was in a classroom with seven other toddlers when she was left alone with him. She reported that Benjamin went limp and foamed at the mouth, but no one was present to see exactly when he received the injury that killed him.
According to ABC 7 Chicago, this lack of an eyewitness account led to speculation regarding what took place during the period. A caregiver, Nancy Kallinger, was available but did not witness anything suspicious or heard a commotion or noise. A lack of further evidence makes it hard to clarify a timeline sequence of events for Benjamin's eventual death.
4) The controversial medical evidence
According to ABC 7 Chicago, as Calusinski's defense prepared for trial, they discovered evidence that suggested Benjamin had an existing head injury that might have contributed to his death. Forensic experts later reviewed X-rays and concluded that they showed older injuries not related to the actions of Calusinski.
According to ABC 7 Chicago, this finding countered the prosecution's argument that her actions caused Benjamin Kingan's fatal injuries. This does raise many questions about the autopsy findings and if they were indeed strong enough to give a murder verdict.
5) Ongoing legal battles
According to CBS News, Calusinski was convicted in 2011 and sentenced to 31 years in prison, but she continued to fight her case. She is now gaining renewed attention after seeking clemency from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.
During the latest hearings, new evidence and arguments have been submitted by her attorneys regarding her alleged coerced confession and the dubious medical findings against her during the trial.
According to Fox 32 Chicago, the Lake County State's Attorney's Office has claimed they are willing to review any new evidence but argue nothing presented so far merits changing Calusinski's conviction status.
In short, the mystery and controversy surrounding Benjamin Kingan's tragic death have some fairly chilling details in both medical findings and legal outcomes. As the debate regarding Melissa Calusinski's potential clemency and innocence continues, the nuances of this story continue to be at the forefront of public interest and legal scrutiny.
