RHINELANDER, WI (WSAU-WAOW) -- A jury trial is underway in Rhinelander for the former wife of a former Northwoods doctor who's accused of killing a 20-month-old boy.
Ellen Tran, 29, faces one count of first-degree reckless homicide for the 2017 incident involving her step son. Tran is accused of injuring the boy while he was with her and his biological father.
Trung Tran had just picked the boy up from his mother's home in Virginia and said the boy hand't been bonding well with Ellen. According to investigators, Ellen told doctors at the St. Joseph's hospital in Marshfield that the boy injured himself during a shower. Doctors said the injuries present were not consistent with that story.
A jury for the trial was seated on Friday. Arguments began today, and the trial is scheduled to run through Thursday.
In opening statements the state argued Tran abused the toddler to death.
“In his 20 month life, he spent 30 days of that with the defendant,” District Attorney, Michael Schiek said. “Within those 30 days, there was allegations of child abuse, they were unsubstantiated. Within the 14 days of Avery’s third visit, he’s dead.”
Trung, the now ex-husband of Ellen, is also facing charges of child abuse by failing to prevent bodily harm and neglecting a child with a consequence of death. He was present on Monday and was declared unfit to testify after pleading the 5th to several questions.
He is scheduled for his own pre-trial conference on November 13th.Back in August a judge postponed further action on his trial until Ellen's was completed. He has entered a not guilty plea to all charges.
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