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Highlands Today

Family Waits For Justice In Infant's Death

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: December 11, 2008

SEBRING - William Carro and Willie Hall were wearing matching buttons while sitting in a Highlands County courtroom Wednesday afternoon.

The large buttons displayed the same picture, that of an infant child. The child was the gentlemen's late granddaughter, 3-month-old Alexa Hall.

Both men were in court for the latest appearance of Edgar Michael Otero, the man charged with the infant's death.

"We're just trying to see justice for Alexa," Carro said, adding that he and Hall wear the buttons every time they come to court.

Otero, 30, of 4015 Ponce De Leon, Sebring, is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. Autopsy results revealed that baby Alexa died from blunt force trauma.

The child was taken to Florida Hospital's emergency room by her mother, Brandy Hall, and Otero, Hall's former boyfriend, on Nov. 12, 2007 for an unknown sickness, according to a Jan. 9 Highlands Today report.

Alexa was later airlifted to St. Joseph's Hospital, where life-saving efforts ended. The baby was listed as brain dead.

At Wednesday's pretrial conference, defense attorney Jose Torroella informed the court he was almost finished with discovery, but requested a continuance until late February for the purpose of deposing three additional doctors.

"One key doctor that we have not been able to get a hold of, after a year of working on the case, is the first doctor in the emergency room at Sebring (who) saw the child," Torroella said.

An additional pretrial conference was scheduled for Feb. 18.

More than a year after his granddaughter's death, Carro said his family is "getting by."

During the course of the investigation, a written statement was sent to Highlands Today by Alexa's grandmother, Sandy Carro, which said her family's grief was "indescribable."

"No one should have to endure this kind of senseless pain," the statement said. "The only comfort we have is knowing that a part of her will live on in the lives of three babies that she saved."

Alexa's organs were removed and sent to three "far-off" cities.

Hall, Brandy's father, said Wednesday his daughter is "doing pretty good." December 25, however, will be difficult on the whole family.

"With the holidays coming up, it's kind of hard," he said.

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at 863-386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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