Toddler death in Va. now undetermined

MANASSAS, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s chief medical examiner now says it’s possible that a 15-month-old boy whose father is charged with his murder died of natural causes.

The Washington Post (http://tinyurl.com/ms3tmrn) reports that medical examiner William Gormley on Friday reversed a ruling that Prince Rams died by drowning in Manassas in 2012. Gormley wrote that the cause of death for the boy should be considered undetermined because a natural death can’t be ruled out.

Prince William County prosecutors say the boy’s father, Joaquin Rams, killed his son to collect a $500,000 life insurance payment. Investigators have also tried to determine whether Rams killed two other people to collect insurance money, although he faces no charges in those deaths.

Defense attorney Tracey Lenox says the medical examiner’s reversal leaves an “incredibly weak” case against Rams.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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