A judge found enough evidence against two Dauphin County parents to move their case to trial. Jarrod Tutko Sr. and his wife, Kimberly Tutko face homicide charges in the death of their 9-year-old son, Jarrod Tutko Jr. Police responded to the home after the mother called 9-1-1 in August, saying her son was dead. Autopsy results prove the boy had been dead for days before anyone called police.
One detective testified Thursday afternoon who detailed what happened the night police were called to the Tutko home. When pictures were shown of the 9-year-old the day police responded, the detective, judge, and even relatives of Jarrod Sr. had to choke back tears.
Court documents state Kimberly Tutko first called a family therapist after her husband informed her of their son's death. The therapist then told her to call police.
New information released in court Thursday details different instances where Kimberly changed her story. Police say Kimberly told them her son was 8-years-old. But at the time of his death, he was less than 2 months away from his 10th birthday. She also told police she physically couldn't go up to her son's room and that she last hugged him 3 weeks before he died. But the prosecution says that's not true.
"Prior to Jarrod Jr.'s death she had been on the third floor within at least 3 weeks prior to his death and she had seen the conditions of that room," says Chief Deputy District Attorney, Sean McCormack.
The conditions of Jarrod Jr.'s room were revealed by pictures in court. The detective said feces were, "caked," on the walls, tv, inside door knob, light switch, and on a stuffed animal. But possibly the most disturbing of all was the last photograph shown of Jarrod Jr. after he died, decomposing in a fetal position, weighing just under 17 pounds.
"When you see photographs of a child who had been decaying for a number of days and those sorts of things, it's not an easy thing to look at," says McCormack.
McCormack would not discuss the involvement that Dauphin County Children and Youth Services had. He says it's not their fault that the boy died.
The prosecution also detailed new information related to the Tutko's finances. The couple has 6 children together, including Jarrod Jr. For three of their children, the couple received $710 for each child each month. They also received $710 for Jarrod Sr. and $351 worth in food stamps. Kimberly told police the couple had just filed for more assistance before Jarrod Jr's death.
Jarrod Sr. told police he last checked on his son's room sometime between 5 and 6 o'clock in the evening the Sunday before he died. He says he did not check on him again until Tuesday at 10 o'clock at night when he discovered he had died. The couple claims that Jarrod Sr. did not know what to do after discovering his son's body. He told police he took medication for anxiety and did not tell his wife what had happened.
Court documents state Kimberly began noticing an odd smell. She thought it was decomposing mice, since the couple had had a mice problem before. Jarrod Sr. went to the store to purchase moth balls and bleach that the couple spread throughout the home. When the smell wouldn't go away, Kimberly asked Jarrod Sr. if Jarrod Jr. was "okay," and police say that's when Jarrod Sr. told his wife what had happened.
Michael Richards worked as a nurse for one of the Tutko's younger child. He says he had no idea what was going on just one floor above where he worked.
"I had heard him because he made a lot of noise but I didn't realize the condition he was in because I never saw him," says Richards.
The prosecution says the child Richards took care of was just 12 hours away from her death at the time that police discovered Jarrod Jr. Richards says she was not in that condition when he took care of her between 2011 and 2013.
This case is scheduled to go to trial in December.