COURTS

B.G. mother pleads guilty in death of 3-month-old son

10/29/2013

BOWLING GREEN — Even with injuries too severe to ignore — a broken arm, fractured ribs, and burns on his palms — the mother of 3-month-old Carter Steinmiller did not take him to a doctor or call the authorities.

For her part in the baby’s death last year, Rebecca Steinmiller, 26, of Bowling Green pleaded guilty Tuesday to endangering children. She faces up to three years in prison when she is sentenced Jan. 28 by Wood County Common Pleas Judge Robert Pollex.

Carter died May 5, 2012, several days after his right arm was broken.

The infant’s father, Brian Steinmiller, 32, of Bowling Green pleaded guilty Sept. 18 to involuntary manslaughter and two counts of endangering children. He is expected to be sentenced to an agreed-upon 10 years in prison when he comes before Judge Pollex on Nov. 22.

Wood County Prosescutor Paul Dobson said though Brian Steinmiller admitted to inflicting the injuries, Rebecca Steinmiller said she did not contact anyone — police, firefighters, or family members — about Carter’s injuries and did not seek medical treatment for him.

The child’s broken right humerus “was the most significant injury that we saw that would’ve been clear to somebody, because the arm was very broken, and clearly the baby wouldn’t have been able to move it much or utilize it,” Mr. Dobson said.

The baby also had 23 bone fractures in 15 ribs, he said.

“Obviously she was present with the baby during the time that the baby was alive ... and would have seen these injuries,” he said.

Rebecca Steinmiller called 911 about 5:50 p.m. on the day the baby died, crying and saying she had awoken from a nap and found that Carter was not breathing. An autopsy found that he died from abusive head trauma.

— Jennifer Feehan