Dover Airman Charged In 2012 Death Of Child

Location:1000 block of Avocado Avenue, Dover Air Force Base Housing, Dover, DE

Date of Occurrence: November 3, 2012 at 3:52 p.m.

Victim: Evan J. Dudley-21 months old from Dover Air Force Base, Dover, Delaware

Defendant/Charges/Bond Information:
Justin K. Corbett-25 of the first block of Hickory Lane, Dover, DE (photo attached)
Murder by Abuse or Neglect Recklessly Cause Death of Child
Committed to JTVCC on $100,000 Cash Bond

Dover - Delaware State Police have charged a 25 year old Dover Air Force Base airman in connection with the 2012 death of 21 month old Evan J. Dudley who was entrusted to his care as a primary caregiver during the military deployment of the child’s mother, also an airman assigned to the base.

The incident occurred on November 3, 2012 at approximately 3:52 p.m. when Justin K. Corbett-25, an airman assigned to the Dover Air Force Base contacted 911 from his residence located in the 1000 block of Avocado Avenue, Dover Air Force Base Housing, to report an emergency requesting assistance for 21 month old Evan J. Dudley who was unresponsive after falling down a flight of eight carpeted stairs.

Evan J. Dudley was transported by ambulance to the Kent General Hospital in Dover for initial assessment and care and was later transferred to the Nemours/Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington where he was admitted in critical condition with head trauma and multiple contusions on his body.

On November 7, 2012 just after midnight, Evan J. Dudley succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the Nemours/AI duPont Hospital for Children.

An autopsy was conducted by the Delaware Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on November 7th and it was determined that Evan J. Dudley suffered multiple injuries including retinal and other eye injuries, multiple contusions on his head, and brain swelling and bleeding. The cause of death was ruled homicide by blunt force trauma.

After a thorough and comprehensive investigation by the Delaware State Police and review by the Delaware Attorney General’s Office, the case was submitted for review to a child abuse expert and pediatric pathologist due to the discovery of undisclosed unique injuries noted during the autopsy. After their lengthy review and evaluation of the complex case, both experts agreed that the child was the victim of a homicide.

On Tuesday, February 18, 2014 Troopers obtained warrants for Justin K. Corbett in connection with the death of Evan J. Dudley. Troopers along with agents from United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) responded to a residence in the first block of Hickory Lane, Dover Air Force Base Housing, where Justin K. Corbett was located and taken into custody without incident. He was transported to Delaware State Police Troop 3 where he was formally charged with Murder by Abuse or Neglect First Degree Recklessly Cause Death of Child. He was arraigned and committed to the James T. Vaughn Correctional Facility on $100,000 Cash Bond.