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Doctor: infant had brain bleeding; emergency transfer to Texas Children's recounted in court testimony
Summary
An ER physician testified that three-month-old Palmer Jones arrived with bleeding inside the skull, prompting rapid tests and an air transfer to Texas Children's Hospital; a recalling witness described telling detectives she had seen 'Austin bouncing Palmer.'
Dr. Michael Colson, an emergency physician, testified in the 252nd District Court that three-month-old Palmer Jones arrived at Southeast Texas Medical Center in critical condition with bleeding inside the skull and was transferred by helicopter to Texas Children's Hospital for neurosurgical care.
"The baby had some blood, in inside the brain area," Dr. Colson said, describing radiology findings and the decision to move the infant to a specialized pediatric center. He told the court he ordered a CT scan, chest X-ray, blood work and started an IV; the radiologist reported bilateral, diffuse intracerebral bleeding. Dr. Colson said the bleeding could increase pressure on the brain and that the team arranged rapid transfer to Houston so a neurosurgeon could evaluate whether surgery was needed.
Colson testified it was a dangerous presentation and that the transfer — by helicopter — was the most efficient method to get Palmer to the pediatric specialists. He said the hospital’s priority was stabilizing the infant and getting neurosurgical care. "We had to transfer the baby immediately to Texas Children's Hospital," Colson said.
Kristen Broussard, recalled as a state witness, testified she had given multiple video statements at Fort Nation Police and at Texas Children's and that those video statements refreshed her memory. Broussard told investigators she believed "the only thing that I could think of was Austin bouncing Palmer," and she demonstrated how Austin had bounced the child for officers. She also said she had not witnessed anyone shake or drop the baby and that she had no medical training. On cross-examination defense counsel emphasized that Broussard relied on her recollection after reviewing video and that she did not have clinical expertise to link specific mechanisms to the injury.
The court record also shows some confusion in testimony about prior records: Dr. Colson initially referenced a prior cranial injury but on review clarified that records from June 2022 — not the February visit under immediate consideration — reflected a prior subdural hematoma. Colson and counsel reviewed medical records during testimony to clarify the timeline.
Colson said tests performed at the medical center returned results quickly (he estimated staff had results within about 30 minutes), and that the most serious finding was intracerebral bleeding that required transfer. He added he did not know the definitive treatment performed at Texas Children's because hospitals may not release detailed follow-up information without appropriate authorization.
The testimony recorded medical evaluation steps, the imaging results, and the emergency transfer; investigators and child-protective services were both involved in follow-up inquiries. No finding about cause or responsibility was made in court testimony; the transcript records only the witnesses' statements and the medical observations they reported.
