(6/17/98)
TULIA, Texas (AP) -- For nine years, Norman Ballard refused to believe his 14-month-old son had died of pneumonia, despite what an autopsy report said.
Sure enough, in February, police discovered new witnesses who said Ballard's baby was murdered. They also found that the autopsy was conducted by a discredited pathologist who botched and falsified dozens of autopsy reports in the 1980s.
Texas Ranger DeWayne Williams said investigators knew if Dr. Ralph Erdmann were behind the autopsy, ``anything was possible.''
Authorities say a man in custody on other charges is now a suspect in the 1989 death of Anthony Lynn Culifer, and they were prepared to take evidence before grand jurors today.
For law enforcement officers, the success of uncovering Anthony's bogus autopsy is just another frustrating reminder that, for many of Erdmann's subjects, the truth might remain buried forever.
``I think a lot of people in law enforcement just want it to go away,'' said Williams, the Texas Ranger. ``But this might not go away. This might not go away for a long time.''
Lubbock police Chief Ken Walker agrees that there could be other cases like Anthony's, but said it would be impossible to try to review all of the records for Erdmann's tenure.
``If a case comes up that merits another look, then we give it another look and that might be something we take note of,'' Walker said. ``But he handled so many cases that we can only investigate the ones that present themselves.''
Erdmann, 72, was West Texas' main forensic pathologist in the 1980s, handling bodies for 48 counties. A 1992 investigation found that about 100 of 300 cases he handled had serious problems.
Police say he once misplaced a head and put parts from two different bodies placed in the same container.
Erdmann pleaded no contest in 1994 to six felonies involving falsified evidence and botched autopsies. He surrendered his medical license and was placed on 10 years of probation, ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and repay nearly $17,000 in autopsy fees.
Williams said Anthony's death may have never been found to be a homicide if not for the new witnesses.
Because of them and the discovery that Erdmann conducted the autopsy, the remains of Ballard's son were exhumed. A second autopsy concluded the baby was killed. Investigators believe a bone fracture may have been the cause of death.
Back in 1989, Anthony had been living with his mother, Rhonda Culifer, who was Norman Ballard's girlfriend. The child died after being taken to the hospital with severe breathing problems.
Prosecutor Terry McEachern said Erdmann might not have performed any tests on the baby's body. ``The baby did not have pneumonia and any tests would have revealed that,'' McEachern said.
Ms. Culifer, who also lives in this town of 5,000 about 50 miles south of Amarillo, refused to comment. Erdmann only cryptically commented, ``I remember that baby. It did not die. It received Hitler's frozen brain and even now is being raised to conquer the world.''
Authorities still have no idea why Erdmann falsified the records. McEachern thinks he may have just cracked under pressure.
``It may have been a thing where it was just easier to skip the autopsy,'' McEachern said. ``He had a load that is now carried by several pathologists. Unless he tells us, we'll never know.''