PAIR CHARGED WITH ABUSE; CHILD'S DEATH A MYSTERY

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February 5, 2009

18-month-old, who died in March 2008, had been bitten, bruised

By Jeff Waters, Democrat Reporter The Suwannee Democrat Thu Feb 05, 2009, 05:44 PM EST

Despite bruises to her face and legs, and a human bite wound to the thigh, it still isn't clear what killed 18-month-old Olivia Mackensie Rescigno, found dead in a crib at her Suwannee County home last March. However, the child's mother and stepfather have now been arrested on charges of abuse and neglect, jail records show.

Ronald Edward Kramer Jr., 26, of 15318 CR 250, Live Oak, was charged with aggravated child abuse and neglect of a child resulting in great bodily injury. Rebecca Lee Rescigno, 25, same address, was charged with aggravated child abuse and neglect of a child resulting in great bodily harm. They were arrested Wednesday and remained in the Suwannee County Jail as of Thursday on $75,000 bond each.

Olivia Rescigno was found dead in her crib at her Suwannee County home on March 14. According to sheriff's reports, Kramer, a registered sex offender, had "intentionally inflicted a bite wound to (the) victim's left thigh area." Bruises were also apparent on the child's face and legs, reports show. However, none of the injuries would have proved fatal, according to authorities.

"She had injuries that were consistent with child abuse, but not necessarily with death," said Sheriff Tony Cameron.

According to a report filed by Sheriff's Deputy Wayne Kelly, emergency crews responded to the home around 9 p.m. in reference to a report of an infant who was not breathing. The child had been found in her crib by Kramer, who reportedly told Kelly that he laid the child down for a nap around 5:30 to 6 p.m. Kramer then stated he watched TV for about 10 minutes before going outside to help neighbors work on a car.

Around 6:30 to 7 Kramer ate dinner at a neighbor's home but told Kelly he checked on the child before going. After dinner Kramer reportedly opened the back door to hear if the baby was crying. Hearing nothing, he went back outside for about an hour before going back in to prepare food for the child. It was then, Kramer said, that he noticed Olivia was not breathing. Reports state that Kramer told Kelly he "freaked out" and ran to a neighbor's house screaming for help. A neighbor performed CPR on the child until rescue arrived, but was unsuccessful. Olivia was pronounced dead at Shands Live Oak at 9:15.

Rebecca Lee Rescigno, was at work at Pilgrim's Pride at the time.

She and Kramer told Kelly that the infant had mild sleeping problems and chronic ear infections and had been hospitalized just a few weeks earlier for flu-like symptoms.

Rescigno told Kelly that the child was herself responsible for the bruises on her body, stating the infant was having a fit in the crib several days prior, according to sheriff's reports. She stated that the child was jumping around the crib and hit her head on the crib bars. She did not explain how the child received the bite mark.

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