More time given in toddler's death case

Attorneys on both sides need additional time, so a continuance was granted Tuesday in the case against Jennifer Short, the mother of deceased 22-month-old Kaedyn Short.

Short, 28, is charged with failure to report child abuse inside the home and neglect of a child with great bodily harm. She waived her right to appear at Tuesday's pretrial conference.

Defense attorney Linda Rodriguez-Torrent filed an amended motion to compel in the case on discussions she had with Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin and Highlands County Sheriff's Det. Tyrone Tyson.

She also asked for the continuance so both she and Houchin can talk with the detective about the items she's looking for.

"There are 42 items listed on the motion to compel," Rodriguez-Torrent said to Judge Peter Estrada.

Houchin, in his response, said he and the defense have been working cordially together on the case up to this point.

Beside him were a notebook and three large stacks of documents, which consisted of transcripts of witness statements, medical records, police reports and the autopsy report.

"There was a motion to compel filed by defense counsel in October," Houchin said. "We replied to that with a compact disc containing statements and photographs, as well as some transcripts, on Nov. 20."

He added that the majority of the requests in the amended motion are additional transcripts of witness statements.

"Some of the statements of ... witnesses may be on tape or CDs, but not transcribed," Houchin told Estrada. "We will supply those in the form in which they exist, if we haven't already done it."

Houchin agreed with continuance and the case was put off until Jan. 20.

Before the continuance was granted, Rodriguez-Torrent told Estrada the case has not yet reached the stage where the defense is coordinating with the co-defendants.

Former Avon Park Police Officer James Parker, 32, has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in connection with the young girl's death.

Parker remains in jail under no bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday morning.

The younger Short died May 27 at a hospice home where she was being cared for in her final days. She had been on life support at a St. Petersburg hospital for some time after being hospitalized for severe injuries she suffered March 29.

That night, the child was brought into the Highlands Regional Medical Center emergency room with multiple bruises and an apparent skull fracture.

Parker, who was Jennifer Short's former boyfriend, was reportedly watching the child at the time while her mother was at work.

Two day care workers from A Better Choice Children's Academy in Sebring, which Kaedyn Short attended, were also indicted on misdemeanor counts of failing to report suspected abuse.