DATE: Monday, May 26, 1997                  TAG: 9705260051

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LIZ SZABO, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   49 lines

MOTHER CHARGED IN DEATH OF SON, 2 MEDICAL EXAMINER RULES CHILD DIED OF ``HOMICIDAL MEANS''

A Virginia Beach woman was arrested Sunday and charged with second-degree murder in the death of her 2-year-old son.

Her son, Charles Michael Burns, died at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters on May 19. Although the specific cause of the child's death has not been determined, the medical examiner has ruled that the child died of ``homicidal means,'' police said.

After a weeklong investigation, police arrested Kelley Ann Carr Burns, 26, at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, police spokesman Mike Carey said.

The investigation began after doctors at the hospital told police they suspected child abuse in the case, Carey said. Police expect the medical examiner to announce the cause of death by Wednesday.

Burns, of the 1200 block of Pipers Crescent, is being held without bond at the Virginia Beach jail, Carey said. She is scheduled to appear in Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court for a bond hearing Tuesday morning.

The child's father, Charles Samuel Burns, who is separated from the mother, said he can't believe his son is dead. Burns hadn't seen his son since October.

``I'm still waiting for him to come home,'' he said. ``He was all smiles.''

Kelley Burns called Virginia Beach police at noon May 18 to report that her son was unconscious, Carey said.

Burns told police that the child walked out of the bathroom, stumbled into the living room and collapsed.

He was taken to Virginia Beach General Hospital in critical condition. The child was moved to Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters the same day and put on life support, Carey said. He died the next day.

Suspecting child abuse, doctors notified police, Carey said.

This is the second case in about a year in which a mother has been arrested after a child has died at the hospital.

On May 17, 1996, a 4-week-old girl died after suffering skull fractures, a broken femur and bruises.

On May 23, Portsmouth police arrested the baby's mother, a 15-year-old. She was charged with first-degree murder. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

Kelley Ann Carr Burns told Beach police that her son, Charles

Michael,[b/w photo] collapsed in her living room. KEYWORDS: CHILD ABUSE MURDER ARREST

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