Court hearing rescheduled for man accused of killing 1-year-old; autopsy results awaited
![michael_curtiss[1].jpg](http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2012/10/michael_curtiss[1]-thumb-150x186-125553.jpg)
Michael Curtiss
The Ypsilanti Township man charged with felony murder in the death of a 1-year-old boy under his care had his preliminary examination adjourned Tuesday in the 14A-1 District Court.
An examination was rescheduled for Dec. 4 as both the defense and prosecution await results of the autopsy on Chase Miller who police say died from blunt force trauma to the head while Michael Curtiss, 34, was baby-sitting for the 1-year-old Oct. 21.
"The people have yet to receive a copy of the autopsy report," said Assistant Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eric Gutenberg.
Curtiss appeared briefly in the courtroom before Judge Richard Conlin and only spoke when asked if he understood the conditions of waiving his right to a preliminary examination within 14 days.
"Yes," he said.
Chase Miller
Courtesy Stark Funeral Services
Curtiss is charged with felony murder, first degree child abuse and possession of a controlled substance, heroin, less than 25 grams. The heroin was discovered when police were dispatched to Curtiss' Ypsilanti Township home in the early morning hours of Oct. 21 after receiving a 911 call from Curtiss that the child was choking, police said. Police have not confirmed if Curtiss was high on the drug the night the boy suffered the head injury that killed him.
When authorities arrived, the child was not breathing, police have said. CPR was administered by deputies until paramedics arrived and took the 1-year-old to St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Hospital, where he was pronounced dead after resuscitation attempts failed.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Tabitha
Thu, Nov 15, 2012 : 9:44 p.m.
The reason for so many removed comments is because some individuals have tried giving other individuals personal information, or has accused guilt on individuals involved. Or best part yet on why putting off guilt on individuals family,so nowhatchasay shouldn't be so surprised as to why all their comments got removed. This tragedy is sad and painful enough no one shouldn't be on here being so rude and hateful to anyone involved.
nowhatchasay
Thu, Nov 15, 2012 : 9:12 p.m.
You know what I'm going to read the guidelines and stick strictly to them, and the reason for so many comments being deleted is that most don't want to know the truth, Then I will see who has the comments deleted. Cause I don't think that I have went out of the guidelines, U all know that I know to much and you all can't handle the truth. One question.........Is the babies mom still haveing conversation with him or not from the jail?
prayingforjustice
Wed, Nov 14, 2012 : 5:45 p.m.
so many questions so many different answers ..everyone has their own story their own tale to tale .I just won't the truth for everyone involved ..maybe Chase hurt himself ..seeings how no one wants anyone else to be blamed !
Heartbroken
Thu, Nov 15, 2012 : 8:37 p.m.
Just the mer fact of all the deleted conversations shows the lack of morals and respect from people!
Heartbroken
Thu, Nov 15, 2012 : 1:52 p.m.
I suppose anyone of us could have made the same mistake! He has cared for so many people's children! So she trusted him just like everyone else! I am also sure you were told some many different stories or versions of the events that took place that horrible night! But only 3 people know the truth! GOD,CHASE AND MICHAEL! We all have a fair, just and forgiving GOD and should learn from him!!
Heartbroken
Thu, Nov 15, 2012 : 1:17 a.m.
Who has ever said no ones anyone to be blamed?? All we are saying is people should respect all involved in this horrible situation! Saying his family needs to be hurt etc. is not fair to them, saying the mother should be blamed is not fair to her! All these stories going around are ridiculous!
heartbrokemother
Wed, Nov 14, 2012 : 3:53 p.m.
To nowwhatchasay why blame michael's mother for this? I'am sure she raised him to the best of her ablilty being a single mother and who are you to judge?and to threaten his family not smart.you have no ideal what went on that night all you know is the rumor's going around town. and to judge chase's mom shame on you.so until you know the truth i suggest you keep your opion's to yourself.
Lisa Stevens Patterson
Wed, Nov 14, 2012 : 2:04 a.m.
TO nowhatchasay I can say that cause I had a relative than was on drugs and no one knew till they OD. Some hide there drug problem VERY WELL. And I know both and if for one min the mother would have thought he would hurt CHASE she would NEVER HAVE LEFT HIM. Nuff said
Tabitha
Tue, Nov 13, 2012 : 4:17 p.m.
It doesn't matter who's my family, and for you're information I do believe Chase should get justice, I just also believe that if you ain't personally involved in this tragic, feel the unbelievable pain of it all shut up and sit down! Chase's mother don't need people she don't even know pointing fingers at her or does Curtis's family who both had no control or beliefs something like this could ever happen, so stop judging as if you're any better then Chase's mother.
prayingforjustice
Tue, Nov 13, 2012 : 2:17 p.m.
also I agree 100% with you iamsam ........Curtis should man up ..he sure was a big man againsts that poor helpless baby !
prayingforjustice
Tue, Nov 13, 2012 : 2:12 p.m.
to Tabitha I would think you must be related to the curtis family ,,because if you were related to CHASE you would be casting judgement also ..and if this were your child you would be wanting justice for him/her .at least if curtis did thie terrible crime his family can still see him ..Poor baby mama will never see her little baby again ,until she meets him in heaven .I dont know either family .Im just voiceing my opinion .To iamsam I dont know if you have children or not and its not my business But ?????? would you leave your child with someone you had only been dating 2or3 weeks ???????????.The babys mama made a big mistake and Poor CHASE suffered .....
IAMSAM
Wed, Nov 14, 2012 : noon
You have NO IDEA what its like to be a single parent...thats plan to see! Sometimes we are given a choice that is really no choice at all!! Find a sitter or lose your job, lose your job, cant feed kids, cant feed kids, lose kids! its a visious circle for a single parent....no where do you ever hear anything about the BIO father of this child, maybe the mother didnt have much of a choice. regardless it's a last minute choice she will regret for the rest of her life...that is torture enough!!!
IAMSAM
Tue, Nov 13, 2012 : 12:19 p.m.
prayingforjustice. You are right, It wasnt my intent to cast judgement on you or your life (I dont know you) I was simply trying to say perhaps you and so many others shouldnt jump to judge the mother so quickly we all have been in a situation where someone pulled the whool over our eyes. Yes, thankfully none of us ended up in the paper, but I highly doubt that was this Mother's intention. Tabitha....I was not trying to cast hateful judgement on anyone, but the fact here is there is only one person that deserves any respect, desrves justice, and for his voice to be heard, and that is CHASE! I realize this is a diffelcult issue for many of the family members on both sides of the fence, but Mr. Curtiss made his choices all on his own it has nothing to do with his family. We may never know each detail that lead up to Chase losing his life, but I assure you facts will come out in court, and if Mr. Curtiss was a man at all he would save everyone the heart ache of a trial, save the mother the heart ache of having to look at countless pictures of chase in a manner that is uncalled for!! Mr.Curtiss was a good Dad, a good Friend I've heard...but evidently he made a choice that night that has shocked many, but the choice was still his to make. Perhaps it was a drug induced blurr for him who knows, but does that mean Chase should go with out justice? I pray Chase's Family fights for justice with all they have! and I also pray Mr.Curtiss finds peace with in himself to turn to god, and right his wrong by sparing this mother more heart ache...Mr. Curtiss has the power to give Chase Justice, save tax payers money, and give this mother closure. The question is, is he man enough to think of someone other than himself?
IAMSAM
Wed, Nov 14, 2012 : 10:56 a.m.
I dont wish anyone to be wrongfully charged! They must have some type of solid evidence on him otherwise he would not be setting where he is...jail! Surely they cant print false info...its against the law...Mr. Curtiss could file charges for deformation of character. Lie detector test?? So are you saying whatever happen to chase took place prior to being in the care of curtiss? I understand some things happen by accident but I also know some things that were done to chase cant be explained away by an accident..unless all is rumor. "Someone" hurt that baby! Question...did Mr Curtiss have drug test as well? And where is the Bio dad in all this? all you hear is Mr curtiss and the mother did or didnt do...wht about others in this babys life....who all cared for chase in the days leading up to his death? If Curtiss is really innocent then im sure his lawyer has this down...right? Trial will show just how innocent he is...right? Until then.....something happen and someone needs to tell the truth!!!
Heartbroken
Wed, Nov 14, 2012 : 1:36 a.m.
So if mr. Curtiss has passed a lie detector test and has given a sworn statement about what happen and if things are being twisted by detectives and misconstrued.. Do you not think he should have justice himself? Or should he just give all of you someone to BLAME!
Tabitha
Mon, Nov 12, 2012 : 9:50 p.m.
You all can sit n judge, but it's these families who are left with broken hearts not anyone of u . Have respect for the one's who's lost, no one will ever know the hurt and pain both families feel in all this. Why comment such hate on anyone you don't know just being real. They don't need anymore judgment
prayingforjustice
Sun, Nov 11, 2012 : 12:58 a.m.
Iamsam to answer your questions .the point is this is not about me my children my husband or boy friend ,this is about a poor baby that lost his life because of someones ignorance .why would you even compare whats happened in my personal life to the death of a child ,.you dont see my name in the paper for someone murdering my children .so evendently ive done something right ..smh you would even ask such .
IAMSAM
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 12:46 a.m.
we should know the truth before commenting??? All I know is a baby is dead...A BABY! I realize both families are devastated, but we all know there was a great deal of damage done to poor Chase....rumors swirl, and then these so called Rumors become truth. little by little more and more comes out and all evidence will prove this fact. As for Mr.Curtiss, regret weighs heavy on the heart...if he is truly remorseful then he needs to tell the whole truth....if nothing more than to give the mother answers to a death she will never get over!! As far as knowing the truth before commenting...all I would like to know is what could a 14 month old baby do to deserve such a harsh punishment? Some say "maybe it was an accident" well then the accident would be Mr.Curtiss losing his temper to a point of NO RETURN! Dont you ever wonder what Chase was going through that night?? I sure do, and it sickens me to think , so many still worry about Mr.Curtiss. I'm sorry and I pray for everyone, because its not my place to cast judgement...I'll leave that to God! RIP Chase.
Lisa Stevens Patterson
Tue, Nov 13, 2012 : 9:52 p.m.
Cant blam the mom
IAMSAM
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 6:07 p.m.
How can you blame the mother? Maybe both families knew each other, but it is very easy to hide things from others. Just because their families knew one another doesn't mean her and Curtiss knew everything about each other. Even still NO ONE expects a person to kill a baby!! I find your judgement of the mother to be harsh....are you married? do you have children? if so have you ever found yourself defending your child to the father? Has the father/boyfriend ever done anything in a drunken stuper or just over reacting in general....My point is everyone has that breaking point some of us control it better than others, but the issue still remains our own no one else is to blame but the person that loses control in the first place!! It shocks me greatly that you place any blame on the mother at all. I myself have experimented with drugs when I was younger, and I assure you NO ONE KNEW I kept it to my self!! Hasn't anyone ever kept something from you..that you found out later about? Its sad that by time the mother found out her baby was dead, but we all are guilty of letting the whool be pulled over our eyes.
prayingforjustice
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 : 1:41 a.m.
iamsam will anyone ever know the truth ? you know they are going to try to get him off and make so many excuses for his actions .and why would you call him Mr Curtis he don't deserve that headline ..I don't know any of these people but I will be happy yo know when Curtis gets whats comeing to him ..And i will say the sooner the better .Why would a mother leave her child with someone like this ..If the rumors are true she knew this person 20 years she would have know he was on drugs ,I can't stand people that make excuses for him or her .
djm12652
Fri, Nov 9, 2012 : 7:10 p.m.
How did this child come under Curtiss' care or lack of?
prayingforjustice
Thu, Nov 8, 2012 : 11:56 a.m.
The real sad thing here is the Miller family can never see Chases smiling face again,Yet the Curtis family can visit him and he will have 3 meals aday and a roof over his head the rest of his life .Chase will never get to grow up and enjoy life !
heartbrokemother
Wed, Nov 7, 2012 : 10:32 p.m.
it would be nice if the press knew what they were printing all they are going on is spectalation. and everyone has a right there own opion but they should know the story before they comment or should i say the truth. there is two family's that are torn apart here. i pray for both family's and this is a very sad and tragic situation for both family's..
Nikkay Calloway
Wed, Nov 7, 2012 : 5:46 p.m.
This Guy Michael Curtiss needs to be sent to under the prison.