Coroner Alleges DA Forced Homicide Charge in Baby's Death

Allegations of Coercion in a Baby's Death Classification

Newly filed documents have revealed allegations that Washington County Coroner Timothy Warco was pressured by the county’s District Attorney to classify the death of a 2-month-old baby as a homicide. These claims come from the Atlantic Center for Capital Representation, a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring fair representation for individuals facing capital murder charges in Pennsylvania.

The Death of Sawyer Clarke

In May 2022, police were called to a home in Peters Township after a 2-month-old baby, Sawyer Clarke, was found unresponsive. The infant was taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital, where he passed away the following day. Jordan Clarke, the child’s father, told authorities that he had been carrying Sawyer when his foot got caught in a grocery bag, causing him to fall with the baby in his hands. According to Clarke, he landed on top of the infant during the fall.

Sawyer’s death was initially classified as a homicide by Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh, who stated, “Any crime against a child is heinous, obviously. This baby was two months old and in the hands of his father.”

Newly-Released Documents Detail Coercion Claims

The documents, filed by the Atlantic Center for Capital Representation, suggest that Walsh sought to transfer jurisdiction over the case from Allegheny County to Washington County. The filing claims that Walsh wanted the change because the Allegheny County medical examiner was not willing to classify the case as a homicide. It also states that Walsh, during his election campaign, emphasized harsh punishment for those who harm infants and children.

According to the supplemental filing, the order to transfer the case incorrectly stated that Sawyer Clarke died in Peters Township instead of at UPMC Children’s Hospital. Marc Bookman, an attorney with the Atlantic Center for Capital Representation, said, “The allegation is that Jason Walsh, the DA in Washington County, essentially coerced the coroner into finding that the death happened in Washington County. It did not; it happened in Pittsburgh. And then, coerced him into (saying it was) a homicide.”

Forensic Disputes and Pressure on the Coroner

Forensic pathologists in both counties reportedly could not determine the manner of death. The documents claim that Walsh was dissatisfied with these findings and compelled Warco to change the classification to homicide. In an affidavit, Warco stated that Walsh directed him to list blunt force trauma of the head and torso, along with subdural hemorrhage, retinal hemorrhages, and rib fractures, as the immediate cause of death. He was also forced to label the manner of death as homicide, citing shaken baby syndrome or abusive trauma as the mechanism.

Despite the death certificate being filed on January 4, 2023, it was rejected by the state due to Warco’s lack of jurisdiction over the case.

Legal Challenges Against the District Attorney

The supplemental documents were released following a petition filed by Jordan Clarke and another defendant before the state Supreme Court. The petition argued for limits on Walsh’s discretion in seeking capital punishment. According to lawyers for Clarke and Joshua George, Walsh has sought the death penalty in 11 of the county’s 18 homicide cases during his term.

Walsh responded to the petition, stating, “The arbitrary seeking of the death penalty has become a crisis in Washington County.” He defended his actions, saying, “It's a liberal Hail Mary from an anti-death penalty liberal think tank.”

Family's Lawsuit

In 2024, prior to the petition, the Clarke family filed a lawsuit against Walsh, Warco, and Judge John DiSalle. The lawsuit alleged that the family was repeatedly denied access to Sawyer’s body. It claimed that DiSalle and Walsh conspired to issue court orders preventing the release of the body. By the time the family gained access, nearly seven months after the death, the body was severely decomposed.

Jordan Clarke was charged with multiple crimes, including criminal homicide and aggravated assault. Despite repeated outreach, the county DA office has yet to provide a comment.