ODESSA -- The death of a 3-year-old adopted Russian boy has been ruled an accident by West Texas authorities, but officials said Friday that they are still investigating a case that has become a flashpoint in the debate over international adoption.
Four doctors reviewed the autopsy report and agreed that Max Shatto's death Jan. 21 was not intentional, Ector County Sheriff Mark Donaldson and District Attorney Bobby Bland said. Preliminary autopsy results had indicated that Max had bruises on several parts of his body, but Bland said Friday that those bruises appeared to be self-inflicted. He also said no drugs were found in Max's system."I had four doctors agree that this is the result of an accident," he said. "We have to take that as fact."Alan and Laura Shatto adopted Max, born Maxim Kuzmin, and his half brother, 2-year-old Kristopher, from an orphanage in western Russia last fall. Laura Shatto told authorities she found Max unresponsive outside their Gardendale home while he was playing with his younger brother.He was pronounced dead at a hospital a short time later.Russian authorities have blamed Max's death on his adoptive parents and used the case to justify a recently enacted ban on all American adoptions of Russian children. Russia's Investigative Committee has said it has opened its own investigation. It's unclear whether the committee could charge the Shatto family or force their prosecution.Alexander K. Zakharov, the Russian consul general in Houston, said he wanted to see an official report from authorities before commenting on Friday's announcement.The investigation of the boy's death continues, Bland said. Once investigators complete their work, Bland will meet with them and decide whether to pursue charges such as negligent supervision or injury to a child by omission. He did not say when any decision would be made.The Shatto family's attorney, Michael J. Brown, said that Max's death being ruled an accident "is not a surprise to me at all." Three doctors from the Tarrant County medical examiner's office, which completed the autopsy, and another doctor agreed on the finding.Brown said Max suffered from behavioral issues and occasionally butted his head on objects or other people, which is how he got bruised.Donaldson has said that Laura Shatto told investigators that she went inside to use the bathroom, and when she came back outside, she found Max near playground equipment outside the family's home.No one answered the phone at the Shatto home Friday, and a sign had been posted on the driveway: "No Comment."Gladney clearedState officials had been investigating whether the Gladney Center for Adoption in Fort Worth, which facilitated the adoption, followed proper procedures in this case.The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services said Friday that it found no violations regarding Gladney."Gladney was confident that the review of the adoption file would have a positive result and be in accordance with Gladney's policies and procedures," Gladney spokeswoman Jennifer Lanter said. "We worked hard to provide documentation and information to the Sheriff, the Medical Examiner and to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services."She added: "We are constantly reviewing our systems to ensure we are maintaining a high standard of excellence. Though we are pleased with this finding, we are still very sad about the death of Max and we continue to mourn the loss of this precious child."Staff writer Anna M. Tinsley contributed to this report.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
