Linda Kay Baldwin

Linda Kay was born on Nov. 18, 1952 in Banner Elk Twp., Avery Co., NC to Tivis Clyde and Martha Marybell Bentley Baldwin. She died on Jul. 4 1953 after having lived for only 7 months 16 days.

Her death certificate reads like a horror story:

"Disease or Condition Directly Leading to Death:  Cerebral Contusion, severe Due to: Severe blows to head, neck and chest."

The real horror comes when the certificate describes how her injuries occurred:  "Pt [patient] struck by mother"

The child was buried at Newland Cemetery in Avery Co., NC

Tivis was a son of William Roby Baldwin and Cora L. Coffey.  He was born on Aug. 6, 1926 in Virginia and died in Portage, Porter Co., IN on Jan. 8, 2006.  He is buried there at the McCool Cemetery.  He shares a headstone with Martha but her death date is not inscribed.

I wonder if she was ever legally punished for the crime?

Cora Coffey was the daughter of Rabon Scott and Margaret E. Hollander Coffey.  Some additional information about Scott and Margaret can be found here and here.

Jack