M.E. : Child dead long before help summoned

Testimony continues in the trial of Jessica Santiago of Rochester. Santiago, 25, faces up to 25 years to life behind bars if convicted of murder in connection with the death of her son LaShawn Dunbar just days before his 2nd birthday in May of 2006.

Confronted by police four months after LaShawn's suspicious death, Santiago allegedly admitted to police she smothered the child when he threw a tantrum and wouldn't stop screaming and crying.  She later recanted the alleged confession before a Monroe County Grand Jury.

Police claim Santiago smothered her child, and then waited some 19 hours to summon help when her 8 year old daughter discovered the boy unresponsive the following day.  The Monroe County Medical Examiner testified today that while an autopsy confirms an approximate time of death to match the allegations, she could not with certainty say the child was suffocated and thus continued to characterize the cause of death as "uncertain"

The homicide detective who obtained a statement from Santiago is expected to testify on Friday, when the 11 man 1 woman jury is also expected to hear the 9-1-1 call placed by Santiago to summon help for her son.