UNITED STATES V. WOODS
484 F.2d 127 (4th Cir. 1973)
NATURE OF THE CASE: This was an appeal from a first-degree murder and attempted murder
conviction.
FACTS: Woods was charged with the care of Paul David Woods, an eight-month-old
preadoptive son. From August 4, 1969 until his death on September 21, 1969, Paul was subject
to a number of unexplained incidents of cyanosis and respiratory difficulties. The medical
examiner stated in his report, that Paul's death was not suicide or accident and that there
was a 75% certainty that his death was caused by smothering, but there was reasonable doubt.
As part of its case in chief, the government went into Woods' prior history of custody of
children and put into evidence that of the nine children she cared for they had 20 episodes
of cyanosis with seven of the children dead. D was convicted and appealed contending that
the government had not proved the corpus delicti beyond a reasonable doubt; that evidence of
other unconvicted bad acts is not admissible to show the death of the alleged victim, and
that the other crimes presented did not rise to the level of clear and convincing evidence.
ISSUE:
RULE OF LAW:
HOLDING AND DECISION:
LEGAL ANALYSIS:
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