
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, September 8, 1995                   TAG: 9509080078
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: MANASSAS                                LENGTH: Short

TOT'S DEATH DIVIDES FAMILY

Family members of an abused toddler are divided over whether charges should be brought against the boy's mother, whose fiance is accused of murdering the child.

Police on Tuesday filed murder charges against Christopher Robert Pilenzo, 25, in the death of 20-month-old Kevin Zimmerman. But some family members say they also want Kevin's mother, 22-year-old Laura Zimmerman, held accountable.

The toddler, who was pronounced dead at Prince William Hospital Aug. 27, was covered head to toe with bruises. An autopsy determined he died of multiple blunt-force trauma after suffering a ruptured bowel and bleeding in the brain.

Zimmerman's aunt, Pauline Lane, interrupted a Wednesday news conference conducted by Prince William Commonwealth's Attorney Paul B. Ebert to demand that Zimmerman also be charged.

``She was his mother and she was supposed to protect him,'' Lane said, sobbing.

Zimmerman, Kevin and another son, 3-year-old Marty, lived with Pilenzo in Manassas. Prosecutors said Zimmerman likely was a witness to Kevin's abuse, and Ebert said charges still could be filed against her.

- Associated Press

by CNB