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Officials probe toddler's death
By Blake Spurney Editor
The mother of a 2-year-old boy who died Dec. 16 and her boyfriend remain in custody at the Rabun County Detention Center while awaiting extradition to Texas.
The boy, Xavier Joseph Vannortwick, was laid to rest Saturday at Blue Heights Baptist Church Cemetery. He was declared dead at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth.
His mother, Anita Ruth Fountain, 25, and her boyfriend, Jose Manuel Rodriguez, 26, were being held on warrants related to a broken arm the boy had suffered.
Rodriguez is charged with causing injury to a child. Fountain is charged with causing injury to a child by omission for allegedly not seeking medical care related to the broken arm. The broken arm was discovered during the boy's autopsy after he died from internal trauma.
"At this time, neither has signed a waiver of extradition to Texas," said Sheriff Don Page. "Texas has stated they will start extradition proceedings."
Fountain, also known as Anita Clemons, is being held in lieu of $125,000 bond. She accompanied Page to Hunter Funeral Home for a private viewing Friday. Rodriguez remains in custody in lieu of $150,000 bond.
An extradition hearing date had not been set as of Monday.
Fort Worth and Rabun County detectives interviewed Fountain and Rodriguez during parts of three days last week. The investigation into the child's death remains under investigation.
Fountain's lawyer, Brek Barker, said Fountain called 911 after she learned Xavier was ill Dec. 14. "That was the first time she ever saw the child in any distress," Barker said. "She acted like any other mother."
Fountain returned home from work about 7 p.m. Dec. 14. Rodriguez was caring for the child prior to that, Barker said. Xavier was eating well and playing with his 4-year-old brother the previous evening.
Barker said Xavier complained of being hot, so Fountain went to a store to buy Tylenol or some other medicine she had used previously to help treat a fever. When she returned, Xavier was showing "acute signs of distress," he added.
Fountain, who didn't have a cell phone or land line at the residence in Texas, then went to the nearest phone with Xavier to call for an ambulance, Barker said. She rode with the ambulance to the hospital.
"The medical people did what they could, but the child slipped into unconsciousness and never recovered," Barker said. "Obviously, she's broken-hearted about her child dying, but she did all she could to nurture and take care of her child."
Barker said Fountain and Rodriguez returned to Clayton after Xavier's death. They had gone to Texas about four months ago. Rodriguez was working in construction.
Barker also said he knew of no previous complaints against Fountain regarding her care for Xavier and his older brother, in Rabun County or in Texas.
Xavier's father, Lance Owen Vannortwick Sr., was brought from Reidsville State Prison to the funeral.
The boy, Xavier Joseph Vannortwick, was laid to rest Saturday at Blue Heights Baptist Church Cemetery. He was declared dead at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth.
His mother, Anita Ruth Fountain, 25, and her boyfriend, Jose Manuel Rodriguez, 26, were being held on warrants related to a broken arm the boy had suffered.
Rodriguez is charged with causing injury to a child. Fountain is charged with causing injury to a child by omission for allegedly not seeking medical care related to the broken arm. The broken arm was discovered during the boy's autopsy after he died from internal trauma.
"At this time, neither has signed a waiver of extradition to Texas," said Sheriff Don Page. "Texas has stated they will start extradition proceedings."
Fountain, also known as Anita Clemons, is being held in lieu of $125,000 bond. She accompanied Page to Hunter Funeral Home for a private viewing Friday. Rodriguez remains in custody in lieu of $150,000 bond.
An extradition hearing date had not been set as of Monday.
Fort Worth and Rabun County detectives interviewed Fountain and Rodriguez during parts of three days last week. The investigation into the child's death remains under investigation.
Fountain's lawyer, Brek Barker, said Fountain called 911 after she learned Xavier was ill Dec. 14. "That was the first time she ever saw the child in any distress," Barker said. "She acted like any other mother."
Fountain returned home from work about 7 p.m. Dec. 14. Rodriguez was caring for the child prior to that, Barker said. Xavier was eating well and playing with his 4-year-old brother the previous evening.
Barker said Xavier complained of being hot, so Fountain went to a store to buy Tylenol or some other medicine she had used previously to help treat a fever. When she returned, Xavier was showing "acute signs of distress," he added.
Fountain, who didn't have a cell phone or land line at the residence in Texas, then went to the nearest phone with Xavier to call for an ambulance, Barker said. She rode with the ambulance to the hospital.
"The medical people did what they could, but the child slipped into unconsciousness and never recovered," Barker said. "Obviously, she's broken-hearted about her child dying, but she did all she could to nurture and take care of her child."
Barker said Fountain and Rodriguez returned to Clayton after Xavier's death. They had gone to Texas about four months ago. Rodriguez was working in construction.
Barker also said he knew of no previous complaints against Fountain regarding her care for Xavier and his older brother, in Rabun County or in Texas.
Xavier's father, Lance Owen Vannortwick Sr., was brought from Reidsville State Prison to the funeral.
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