Timeline of juvenile records leak analyzed

Associated Press - October 9, 2009 5:14 PM ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Investigators looking into the leak of confidential juvenile court records that accused the parents of a kidnapped newborn of trying to sell the baby are zeroing in on the sequence of events to figure out who improperly released case documents.

Amid the continuing investigation into the baby's abduction, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation opened a separate probe into the records leak this week. Spokeswoman Kristin Helm said the timeline of when authorities and child welfare officials learned about the allegations and when the news media reported them is significant.

The family has since been cleared but their lawyer has acknowledged the allegation led state officials to take custody of the baby and his three siblings soon after he was found in Alabama.

The allegations were reported by news media, citing confidential sources, the same day documents in the case were filed in juvenile court. Clerk Vic Lineweaver says his office wasn't involved in the leak.