Twist in ’97 death may change prison slaying case

Attorneys for an inmate charged with a prison slaying have asked the judge to rule out the death penalty after a coroner reclassified another death that put him in prison in the first place.

The Denver Post reports the coroner on Tuesday changed 11-week-old Taylor Montour’s manner of death from homicide to unknown.

Her father, Edward Montour, said he accidentally dropped her when she died in 1997. His lawyers argued she had an undiagnosed bone disease, but he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

In 2002, Montour was accused of killing corrections officer Eric Autobee. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

His attorneys argue the death penalty should be dropped because his original conviction is in question.