Dentist in girl’s death sues Nancy Grace, media outlets

An Au s tin dentist whose 14-month-old patient died after being put under anesthesia in 2016 is suing multiple national media outlets and broadcast personalities, including Nancy Grace, over their reports of the case.

In the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Travis County state district court, Dr. Michael Melanson says the media outlets committed libel and slander by broadcasting and publishing what Melanson says is an inaccurate report from a doctor who questioned why Melanson believed it was necessary to perform a dental procedure on 14-month-old Daisy Lynn Torres.

Daisy died March 29, 2016, about two hours after emergency personnel were called to Austin Children’s Dentistry because her heart had stopped beating.

Melanson’s attorney, Warren Westberg of Plano, released a statement condemning those named in the suit, saying they had falsely reported facts of the case.

“Dr. Melanson genuinely regrets with the ing death of 33-year-old Jerrod Stanford.

Hanks was supposed to plead guilty Wednesday, but the hearing was reset because of a scheduling conflict, said her lawyer, Amber Farrelly. Farrelly declined further comment on the case.

Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick said that Hanks won’t face the death pen- alty because of a decision by his predecessor, Jana Duty.

A capital murder charge is still pending in the case against Da Ryan Terrell Simms, who is accused of helping Hanks in the slaying. Simms, 24, has previously said Hanks was a prostitute who had met Stanford once before his death, according to an arrest affidavit.

But one of Stanford’s friends, sity graduate, home