Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma: Modern Scientific Developments and Their Effect on Investigative and Defensive Considerations
Tracks
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| Friday, November 7, 2025 |
| 3:20 PM - 4:20 PM |
| Redbird EFG |
Overview
Brandon Klages, Staff Attorney, Illinois Innocence Project, Shaun Hittle, Licensed Private Detective, Hittle Investigations
Details
The presentation will provide a brief, high-level overview of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) and Abusive Head Trauma (AHT), explain the progression of and changes in science over the years related to SBS/AHT, and discuss investigating and litigating SBS/AHT cases from a defense perspective, particularly in light of modern scientific developments.
Speaker
Shaun Hittle
Licensed Private Detective
Hittle Investigations
Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma: Modern Scientific Developments and Their Effect on Investigative and Defensive Considerations
Biography
Shaun Hittle has been a criminal defense investigator and private investigator for the past 12 years. Shaun's work focuses on wrongful convictions, with a particular emphasis on child abuse cases. He's based in the suburban Chicago area, but licensed in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana and Oklahoma. His website is HittleInvestigations.com
Brandon Klages
Staff Attorney
Illinois Innocence Project
Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma: Modern Scientific Developments and Their Effect on Investigative and Defensive Considerations
Biography
Brandon Klages has continuously worked in the area of wrongful conviction since 2017, beginning at that time with the Illinois Innocence Project (IIP). Brandon received his law degree from Boston University in 2022 and assisted in a pro bono capacity with the IIP, before formally joining the IIP as a staff attorney in 2024. Brandon specializes in convictions involving pediatric death, and currently oversees various pediatric-death cases in retrial proceedings, post-conviction proceedings, and preliminary investigation.
