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Testimonial February 20, 2017

Shaken - Tonia Miller's story

Being a parent, especially a parent to a newborn baby, can test us in the most surprising ways. Sometimes, oftentimes newborns cry and you don’t know why. It can be frustrating. They sneeze or they cough and you worry it’s something worse. It can be scary. But who really knows what goes on behind closed doors. This week at Life of the Law, we’re going to tell you a story about a young woman, her family, her community and her baby. The question is when has a gone too far and how do we know?

“Shaken” is a coproduction Life of the Law and Medill Justice Project.

Eighteen-year-old Tonia Miller was accused of shaking her baby to death. A jury in Michigan convicted the young mother of second-degree murder and sentenced her to 20-30 years in state prison. But did she do it? What is shaken-baby syndrome?

For the past nine months, journalists with The Medill Justice Project at Northwestern University have been investigating the case of Miller, her baby, her family and neighbors and the trial that sent her to prison.
It’s part of a larger project at The Medill Justice Project that has, for the past four years, been looking into something called shaken-baby syndrome which has sent caretakers, mothers, fathers, and babysitters to prison–some who later had their convictions overturned.

Taylor Mullaney

Law student

Currently student at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, she is interested in the intersection of law, journalism and social justice. She has contributed to Chicago’s Social Justice News Nexus and worked as a fellow at The Medill Justice Project, investigating a potentially wrongful conviction. As a former teacher, Taylor is especially committed to child welfare in all its forms. Taylor received her master’s in journalism from Northwestern University and her B.A. in English and French from the College of William & Mary.

Adèle Humbert

French multimedia freelance journalist

After her graduation at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism in New York, she worked at the Medill Justice Project, a center of investigative journalism where she investigated potentially wrongful convictions. She produced “Shaken”, an audio piece that delves into shaken-baby syndrome case of teenage mother in Michigan. Since graduating with a Master of Laws in Manchester, Adele worked in Asia and France on projects related to human rights, immigration and discriminations for Le Monde and for the French national public radio.

"I remember there was one specific moment, when she talked about not being able to stay at Alan’s parents’ house because she couldn’t bear to look at the empty crib"

Behind the scenes interview with Adele Humbert and Taylor Mullaney — By Nancy Mullane

Where did you get this idea for “Shaken”?

Taylor Mullaney. The Medill Justice Project has been investigating potentially wrongful convictions for several years now. This case came from a private advocate for Tonia, who truly believes Tonia is innocent. Our director, Alec Klein, looked over records and thought there was some potential for an investigation.

When did you meet Tonia and what were your impressions when you met Tonia?

Adèle Humbert. When Taylor and I took the case, we had tons of documents to read.: I remember, we literally had big piles of medical records, police records, court documents all over our desks! It was crucial for us to fully understand the chronology of the events and Tonia’s background before we met her.

By the time we went to the prison, we had done so much research so many interviews surrounding her that to me it felt like I already knew her, in a way.

TM. Yes, meeting her was like the final piece of the puzzle. With her being in prison, there were obviously many logistical challenges for that interview. We finally met her during our second trip to Michigan. I think she was especially calm and mature, even when talking about the day when Alicia died. I would describe her as level-headed. She comes across someone who cares about children and thinks about her actions.

When you met Tonia, what surprised you? What was it like to meet a person who was charged and sentenced for this very private crime?

AH. In this case, it’s true, we don’t know what happened that day. She was alone with her 2-year-old daughter and her baby, and there was no witness. When we met her, the contrast between the way she was portrayed by the prosecutor in court documents, and the person we had in front of us really stood out to me. At trial, they described her as emotionless. When we interviewed her in prison, she actually got very emotional. Maybe it’s not in her character to show her emotions but she had tears in her eyes when we asked her about her memories of Alicia.

TM. I remember there was one specific moment, when she talked about not being able to stay at Alan’s parents’ house because she couldn’t bear to look at the empty crib. You could tell she was trying to hold herself together, but that was the moment she got very emotional.

Is it the end of Shaken for you?

TM. I have a graduate degree in journalism, but I am in law school right now. I am particularly interested in criminal justice and education advocacy, so I would love to work more on podcasts and written material like Shaken when I graduate. As far as Shaken goes, I do see a future for the story, perhaps analyzing the medical and more scientific aspects of what happened. I think MJP is still working on it.

AH. I am a radio reporter and I have a graduate degree in law. I want to use my legal background and my journalistic skills to uncover and tell in-depth stories that can have an impact on real people’s lives and can make a change. Right now, I am working on a French version of the story. I think Shaken and all the topics surrounding this story are fascinating for a French speaking audience.

Medill Justice Project

The Medill Justice Project, founded at Northwestern University in 1999, is an award-winning national investigative journalism center that examines potentially wrongful convictions, probes systemic criminal justice issues and conducts groundbreaking research.

Life of the law

Life of the Law is a team of investigative journalists, audio producers, editors, scholars, and supporters working in cities throughout the US, producing bi-weekly feature episodes that are investigative reports, stories and hot-topic conversations about law in America.

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