The coroner and the state disagree. The fight is over one phrase.
The coroner says the infant died of a ruptured spleen, not measles. The state stands by 'measles-associated'. Both can be describing the same facts.
- What each side says: Coroner Stephen Diamantoni says the baby died of internal bleeding from a spleen rupture, with measles ruled out as a factor. The state uses measles-associated whenever lab evidence of infection is present.
- Why the words collide: Associated measures whether infection was present. A coroner's ruling assigns cause. Treating them as the same claim turns a definitional gap into an accusation of lying.
- What is still unclear: Reporters who reviewed the county records say they do not add clarity on either death, and the full medical files are not public.