BELFAST — Justice Robert Murray, the judge presiding over the alleged depraved indifference murder case against Jessica Williams, ordered records from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services for each of Williams’ four children July 20. The order was issued after a motion in support of a subpoena for the records was filed by Assistant Attorney General Leane Zainea June 25.

Williams is accused of causing the death of her 3-year-old son Maddox, at their Stockton Springs home June 20. According to a medical examiner, Maddox died from blunt force injuries. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Leane Zainea, who filed the Motion in Limine to have a subpoena issued to DHHS to have records for the four children released. According to the motion, “upon information and belief, prior to Maddox’s death and continuing after his murder. DHHS has been involved in child protective investigations with respect to [the children].”

The motion argues that DHHS records for the children, who are all under 10 years of age, will include statements from Jason Trefethen, who is the father of Williams’ three surviving children. Trefethen saw Maddox the day he died, and the motion states that “the State anticipates that the DHHS records will include statements from Trefethen and other witnesses regarding the care of Maddox Williams and the events leading up to his death.”

Given that the requested records are confidential by statute, the only available method for prosecutors to obtain them is by having a subpoena issued for the records. 

The records will be available to both prosecutors and defense attorneys and must remain in the court clerk’s office at all times. 

“The court is mindful of the need to weigh confidentiality of these records against the necessity for the defendant to have access to the documents for the preparation and trial of [the] defendant’s case” the order reads in part.

Justice Murray’s order allotted the agency 30 days to provide the requested records, though an extension can be sought if additional time is needed. 

Jessica Williams is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 28 at 1 p.m.

Williams, 35, who is also known by the surnames Trefethen and Johnson, was with her mother when they took a fatally injured Maddox to the hospital the day of his death, telling hospital staff that the boy had been knocked down by a dog leash and kicked in the stomach by one of his siblings, according to court documents.

Emergency room staff were unable to resuscitate Maddox, who had multiple bruises and abrasions, according to an affidavit in support of arresting Williams. It is noted in the affidavit that some of the wounds to Maddox’s face were covered with stick-on temporary tattoos. 

Williams allegedly evaded arrest until June 28, when she was apprehended at the residence of her mother, Sherry Johnson. 

Williams left the hospital shortly after doctors pronounced Maddox dead, with Sherry Johnson telling police that she had dropped Jessica Williams off at a pier near Searsport Harbor after they left the hospital. This story was called into question when security video footage covering the pier failed to show any sign of Jessica or her mother at the scene, according to court documents.

Sherry Johnson was eventually arrested for allegedly lying to police about her daughter’s whereabouts. 

According to the medical examiner, Maddox’s injuries were “severe and on the level of what would occur as a result of a severe car accident.” Maddox’s cause of death was determined to be multiple blunt force trauma. The manner of his death was determined to be non-accidental inflicted trauma.  

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com