Murder Trial Begins in death of 2 year old in Catoosa County

The murder trial for the foster mother of a two-year old girl who died while in her care gets underway this week in Catoosa County.

Clara Edwards was caring for Saharah Witherspoon in December 2013, along with Saharah’s brother.

Saharah died of head injuries at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital in January 2014.

Edwards claimed Saharah’s injuries came from a fall down the stairs. She told a deputy Saharah dropped a ball at the top of the stairs, then slid down trying to retrieve it and hit her head on the floor. Edwards said the two-year-old cried, but then stopped. A few hours later, Edwards said Sahara fell again and hit her head on a wooden wardrobe case and became unconscious. She says she shook her but she wouldn’t respond. That’s when Edwards said she took the child to the hospital, where she died two days after being declared brain dead.

Jennifer Palmer, Saharah’s biological mother, said her children were placed into foster care because of her violent ex-boyfriend. She said they were placed into a much worse situation.