State Rep. John Mizuno said the U.S. government has been silent on the unexplained death of a 16-month-old boy while under the care of his Marine Corps father, and he wants a formal military investigation into the case.
Mizuno was flanked by about 30 people outside the state Capitol on Thursday afternoon, including the boy’s mother, Jerlee Bahm, before the group started a silent march to remember her younger son, Ernest.
"It’s a possible wrongful death case," Mizuno said. "We don’t have enough information. We just ask that the military conduct a formal investigation."
Former Marine Cpl. Christopher Bahm, 24, an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran, had post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury but was given custody of Ernest two months before the boy’s death on May 20.
Bahm was found guilty at court-martial of abusing his wife and was being kicked out of the Marine Corps at the time of his son’s death, according to records and Jerlee Bahm.
Mizuno said he was shocked that Jerlee Bahm wasn’t informed initially that her husband had PTSD and TBI.
"The other concern we have is that Christopher Bahm was already convicted in a military court of domestic abuse, and knowing those three factors, how could the military allow and support Cpl. Bahm taking Ernest away from Jerlee?" he said.
A Marine Corps Base Hawaii spokesman said Thursday evening more time is needed to respond to Mizuno’s comments.
"The Marine Corps does not tolerate criminal misconduct of any kind. When allegations of criminal misconduct are made, they are investigated and if substantiated, appropriate corrective action is taken," 1st Lt. Diann Olson, the deputy public affairs officer, said in an email.
Honolulu police investigated Ernie Bahm’s death after he was found unresponsive at an apartment in Kaneohe while being cared for by his father, according to reports. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service assisted.
HPD said in August that the case could go no further because the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office could not determine a cause of death.
Dr. Masahiko Kobayashi, deputy medical examiner, wrote in the autopsy report that while Ernest Bahm had an upper respiratory infection, he had "no significant past medical history." There was no evidence of traumatic injury.
It was Kobayashi’s opinion that the cause of Ernest Bahm’s death could not be determined with medical certainty, and it was labeled a "sudden unexplained death in childhood."
Jerlee Bahm acknowledged that she had a stormy relationship with her husband, and he obtained custody of Ernie through a temporary restraining order after accusing her of threats. They have remained separated since.
Her husband was taking Paxil, used for depression, and Zoloft, used for depression, panic and anxiety, she said.
Christopher Bahm left Hawaii several days after his son’s death, his wife said. The Marine Corps confirmed in August that he was in deserter status. He has since separated from the Marine Corps, officials said.
Jerlee Bahm said her husband in August was believed to be homeless, living outside a Walmart store in North Dakota. She said she is not sure where he is now.
Jerlee Bahm said she asked for a congressional inquiry into the actions of her husband’s command, and that request has been forwarded to the Pentagon.
"I’m hoping to get answers," she said. "I’m hoping for the U.S. government to start the investigation."
