Simpson Trial Figure’s Son Found Dead in Tustin Home

Judson Baden, son of prominent New York forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, was found dead at his Orange County home a week after being injured in a motorcycle crash, his father said Friday.

The body of Judson Baden, 32, was discovered Wednesday. An autopsy was performed but a finding on the cause of death was awaiting results of continuing studies, said Kurt Murine, Orange County senior deputy coroner.

The elder Baden, a former chief medical examiner in New York City and a key defense expert in O.J. Simpson’s double-murder trial, said his son had sought medical examination three times after the crash but had been sent home.

“He had injuries that were not deemed to be severe when he was seen in a clinic,” Michael Baden said.

In an emotional interview, the father described his son’s death as due to “complications of a motorcycle accident” and the injuries as “undiagnosed.”

Michael Baden said he did not have details about where his son had gone for examination. Of the autopsy, he said “there are several things pending.” He did not elaborate.

Judson Baden was riding to class at Chapman University in Orange when his motorcycle was sideswiped by a hit-and-run driver and ended up underneath a truck, his father said. He had no other details.

A roommate discovered Judson Baden’s body in their Tustin apartment May 15, Murine said. The estimated time of death was 6 a.m. that day.

The coroner’s official did not know details of the accident but said it would be investigated before the cause of death is determined.

“We are reviewing medical records from that accident but we’re also needing to do these other toxicological and microscopic studies before we arrive at a final determination,” Murine said.

An Orange Police Department official said Friday that the department had “no record of an accident involving Mr. Baden.”

Judson Baden was born July 3, 1963, in New York City. He was a student at the Chapman graduate school, taught at Century High School in Orange, and worked at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. He was also applying to law school, his father said.

Judson Baden is also survived by his mother, Dr. Judianne Densen-Gerber, a psychiatrist; two sisters, Dr. Trissa Baden of Princeton, N.J., and Sarah Baden, a student at Brown University in Providence, R.I.; and a brother, Dr. Lindsey Baden of Beth Israel Hospital in Boston.

A memorial was scheduled Friday afternoon at Chapman University. The funeral was to be held in New York City, his father said. Arrangements were pending.