A 28-year-old Oregon man has been charged with murder in the death of his girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter, authorities say, after initially claiming the child choked on rice and fell from a playground slide at Blue Lake Park.
Background
Dison Ruda allegedly told police that on March 28, he was watching the girl at Blue Lake Park in Fairview when she climbed up the steps of a playground slide "on all fours" and fell backward, landing on her forehead from approximately six feet onto woodchips below. He claimed he could not wake her after the alleged fall.
A superintendent at the park called police around 11:45 a.m. that Saturday morning after observing Ruda carrying a child who appeared to be "unresponsive, unconscious and not breathing." According to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office, Ruda was blowing into the child's mouth as he walked through the park.
The superintendent reported that when she began administering aid and asked what happened, Ruda told her the girl had choked on rice. After performing a mouth sweep and Heimlich maneuver, "She did not locate any obstruction," according to the affidavit.
Medical professionals at the hospital found injuries far more consistent with blunt force trauma than an accidental fall or choking incident.
The Investigation
Police and paramedics documented "extensive bruising to the child's chest, neck, and jaw" that authorities say were "not consistent with choking on food." Hospital staff noted inflamed bruising on the girl's neck and jawline "that were not caused by lifesaving efforts" and appeared to be worsening over time.
A CT scan revealed a left-sided subdural hematoma with midline shift and diffuse cerebral edema. The girl was declared dead less than 12 hours after arriving at the hospital, having suffered loss of blood flow to the brain and lack of oxygen to her internal organs.
Ruda spoke with police through a Chuukese interpreter. According to the affidavit, when the girl's mother arrived at the hospital and saw her daughter covered nearly head-to-toe with significant bruises, she told investigators: "I think he hurt my daughter."
The medical examiner concluded the cause of death was acute left subdural hematoma due to blunt head trauma, with the manner of death classified as homicide. An examination showed bruising throughout the child's body, including her chin, chest, abdomen and extremities.
"He considered literature on short falls in children, the impact-absorbing surface, the existence of blunt traumatic injuries on other body surfaces, including surfaces that are not commonly injured in innocent ways, and the lack of abrasions one would expect to see from a fall on woodchips," the affidavit states. "He concluded that her presentation and injuries were highly concerning for child physical abuse."
Key Takeaways
- Dison Ruda, 28, is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, third-degree assault, and first-degree criminal mistreatment in the death of his girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter
- The girl died on March 28 after being taken to Blue Lake Park in Fairview, Oregon; she was declared dead less than 12 hours later at a hospital
- Ruda allegedly claimed the child choked on rice and fell off a playground slide from approximately six feet
- Medical examination found injuries inconsistent with his account: extensive bruising, subdural hematoma, and trauma not explained by accidental causes
- Police noted that despite finding an unresponsive child, Ruda appeared "calm and unconcerned" to witnesses
What's Next
Ruda has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He is scheduled to be arraigned on June 22 in Multnomah County Circuit Court.
The arrest came after what authorities described as months of investigative work following the toddler's death.