The fourth day in the trial of Antonio Brown Sr. was Wednesday, October 2nd at the Riley County Courthouse. This is the second to the last day in the trial before the jury convenes for deliberation.

The first witness was Brittney Betzold, the mother of the deceased Claden Urbanek. Brittney was there on subpoena, serving 13 years for a plea to 2nd degree reckless endangerment.  The state prosecutor Ellen Mitchell started questioning.

Brittney Betzold testified that Brown had been watching Clayden every day about a week and a half before he passed away. Brittney asked Brown if he would like someone else to watch the child, since he was 14 months and a handful, and was met with Brown becoming defensive towards her. Brittney didn’t ask him again, even when she became worried for Clayden’s safety later.

Brittney was then asked to recall events from the days around Clayden’s death. Jordan Urbanek usually had Clayden on the weekends, but because of the bruises on Clayden from him allegedly falling, Brown convinced Brittney to lie to Jordan. Brittney told Jordan that Clayden would be at her aunt’s house in Junction City, Kansas, that way Jordan wouldn’t think the child was being abused.

The morning of Oct. 4, 2011 Brittney left her job at Tony’s in Salina after a text message from Brown that Clayden was sick. Brittney had called earlier during her first break, and had not received any information from Brown that the child wasn’t healthy.

Brittney and Brown continued to correspond over the day, though Brown refused to come back to their house on 612 W Prescott in Salina after she told him she was calling 911 for Clayden. Brittney originally didn’t call 911 because she was told by Brown that Clayden had fallen off the couch and had a concussion, accounting for his unresponsive state and bruises.

Defense attorney Julie Effenbeck then questioned Brittney. Brittney was asked about her job and Clayden’s previous child care. Brittney worked around 70 hours a week, and was very tired from her schedule when she came home. This led to Brown watching Clayden the majority of the time while she was at work, and she had never seen any bruises on Clayden that would cause her to accuse and/or leave Brown.

Brittney testified that Clayden had started showing symptoms of being sick the night of October 3rd, 2011, and noticed his lack of energy. After refusing to play with Brittney, Clayden vomited. When Brittney had changed him later that evening she noticed bruises on Clayden’s buttox, and she started becoming concerned for his safety.

The trial of Antonio Brown Sr. will continue through tomorrow before the jury will deliberate. The Little Apple Post will continue to follow the case.