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Testimony in Murder Trial: Caregivers Never Noticed Any Signs of Abuse

Joseph Nielsen

(Gillette, Wyo.) So far, witnesses have not testified of identifying injuries that could be said for certain to be a result of child abuse in the trial of Joseph Nielsen, who is accused of murdering 3-year-old Caiden Fedora.

In his testimony in the trial, Ted Watkins, whose granddaughter is also Fedora’s mother, described Fedora as his “adopted grandson” and often cared for the boy while his mother, Crystal Hudson, was at work.

Watkins testified that he had never spotted any evidence of physical injuries on Fedora prior to his death. Watkins did recount an incident at a park in which Fedora seemed to be upset, but observed no apparent injury.

On Aug. 6, 2016, the day Fedora received the injuries that would result in his death, Watkins was on his way to Buffalo. He testified on the stand during Nielsen’s trial that he came back to Gillette, where Nielsen told him the story he has repeatedly told investigators and medical examiners–Fedora had jumped from a coffee table, landed on a dollhouse, and then fell to the floor where the dollhouse tipped over and fell on top of him.

Prosecutors have argued Nielsen’s version of events has varied at different times.

Watkins testified that Fedora was a reserved boy who was not one to jump from furniture. He said the boy would only jump from things when Watkins held out his arms to catch the boy.

Matt Verhelst, a special education teacher at a school Fedora attended, also testified in trial. He stated he never noticed any unusual interactions between Fedora or Nielsen when he picked the boy up from school. He also never noticed any evidence of injuries, which Verhelst said he’d have been legally required to report. He never had any reason to report anything, Verhelst said.

Verhelst did testify that Fedora was “low-key” on the playground. He wasn’t one to engage in particularly dangerous types of play and spent most of his time in the sandbox. He would also use handrails when walking up and down stairs.

Verhelst also testified Fedora was a quiet, and shy boy.

Testimony continues in through today and into next week. We’ll have daily updates on this trial as they come in.

Previous coverage here and here.

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