Regi Tanubagijo — 11 Years for Shaken Baby Junk Science
Regi Tanubagijo was convicted of causing the death of his infant foster son based on "shaken baby syndrome" testimony -- forensic science that has since been widely discredited by the medical community. He spent 11 years in prison before the Northern California Innocence Project took his case and a Solano County judge reversed and vacated his convictions on May 7, 2025. The case represents a growing category of wrongful convictions nationwide: parents and caregivers imprisoned based on now-debunked pediatric forensic theories.
What Happened
Regi Tanubagijo was a foster parent in Solano County who was charged with and convicted of causing the death of his infant foster son. The prosecution's case relied heavily on expert testimony about "shaken baby syndrome" (SBS) -- a diagnosis in which a triad of symptoms (subdural hematoma, retinal hemorrhage, and brain swelling) was said to conclusively prove violent shaking.
In the years since Tanubagijo's conviction, the scientific consensus on SBS has shifted dramatically. Multiple peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated that the "triad" of symptoms can be caused by accidental short falls, medical conditions, and other non-abusive causes. Sweden's Supreme Court has overturned SBS convictions, and numerous U.S. courts have granted relief in similar cases.
The Northern California Innocence Project (NCIP) at Santa Clara University School of Law took Tanubagijo's case and presented evidence that the forensic testimony used to convict him was based on outdated and discredited science. On May 7, 2025, a Solano County judge agreed, reversing and vacating all convictions.
Tanubagijo was released after 11 years. However, the Solano County DA has not ruled out retrying the case, leaving Tanubagijo in legal limbo even after his exoneration.
Key Players
Timeline
Why This Matters
Shaken baby syndrome convictions represent one of the most troubling categories of wrongful imprisonment. Across the U.S., hundreds of parents and caregivers have been convicted based on forensic testimony that the medical community now considers unreliable. California has been slow to address these cases. Tanubagijo's exoneration should trigger a review of every SBS-based conviction in the state -- but so far, the Solano County DA's refusal to rule out a retrial suggests the institutional resistance to admitting error remains strong.