Renee Stonebridge testified for the Commonwealth about the children's eye and brain findings, qualifying Cora's hemorrhages as consistent with an asphyxial process and explaining Callan's brain injury from deprivation of blood and oxygen. She gave a general, not case-specific, estimate for when brain tissue begins dying without oxygen.
Expert witnessOffice of the Chief Medical Examiner
Renee Stonebridge
Medical examiner and director of cardiac and neuropathology at the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Appeared2026 Criminal Trial
32 lines·1 proceeding·1 mention
About
Renee Stonebridge testified for the Commonwealth on Day 12 about her examinations of Cora, Dawson, and Callan Clancy. A medical examiner and director of cardiac and neuropathology, she explained the findings under questioning by Jennifer Sprague.
Stonebridge described hemorrhages in tissue surrounding Cora's and Dawson's eyes. Cora also had hemorrhage in the left optic nerve sheath; Dawson had hemorrhages in the right posterior retina and optic nerve sheath. Discussing Cora, she explained that hemorrhages are general findings but were consistent with an asphyxial process in light of the autopsy findings. For Callan, she described hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, including swelling, compressed ventricles, and diffusely soft tissue, and agreed that deprivation of blood and oxygen led to brain death.
Stonebridge gave a qualified general estimate that brain tissue begins dying after about six to eight minutes without oxygen, noting variation and resuscitation considerations rather than assigning a case-specific duration. She confirmed that dead brain tissue cannot be restored. Kevin Reddington renewed an objection that the testimony was uncontested and unnecessary. Judge William Sullivan reiterated his prior finding and analysis without elaboration, and Reddington declined cross-examination.
Trial Record (1)
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