Did you happen to catch Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III speaking - or trying to, anyway - on the local news, about the Burks case, in which 27-year-old Yumar Antonio Burks has been charged in the death of his 6-month-old son?
Dunnings became so emotional during the interview that he could hardly continue. First thing this morning I phoned the prosecutor and asked him why, given all the tragedy he sees in his job, this case disturbed him so profoundly. Here's what he said:
"I have to tell you that every one of these baby cases gets to me. They haunt me. But this one ... well, there are aspects of this case ... details I can't get into." Dunnings said he had asked the TV station not to air the footage. "It's not that I was embarrassed," he said, "but I'm supposed to be a tough guy."
The baby was pronounced dead Friday at Sparrow Hospital. The father was arraigned Tuesday on charges of murder and first-degree child abuse.
