Port Clinton couple arraigned on charges in infant's death

9/4/2013

Kayla Henderson

PORT CLINTON -- The Port Clinton mother of an eight-week-old boy who died after authorities said he suffered a massive head trauma and her boyfriend pleaded not guilty to two felony charges related to the boy’s March, 2012, death.

Kayla Henderson, 25, and Beau Hutchinson, 26, both of Port Clinton were arraigned Tuesday on a first-degree felony charge of permitting child abuse resulting in the death of a child, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and a third-degree felony charge of child endangering, punishable by up to five years in prison.

The infant, Kalib Henderson, suffered “a massive trauma to the head,” said Ottawa County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Mulligan. Both Ms. Henderson and Mr. Hutchinson were present when the injuries occurred at an Ottawa County residence, the prosecutor said.

Mr. Mulligan said the co-defendants took the injured baby to Ms. Henderson’s grandmother’s house first before taking him to Magruder Hospital in Port Clinton. The baby was taken by air ambulance to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, and then to the Ann Arbor Children’s Hospital where he died days later from the injuries.

Port Clinton attorney Thomas DeBacco, who represents both defendants, called the baby’s death a “tragic accident.”

“They did nothing that any parent hasn’t done before. They left the room while the baby was sleeping in a car seat, a car carrier, and while they were outside of the room something happened to that baby,” he said. “The baby was in the room with other children, and we may never know what happened.”

Both defendants were released from jail on $350,000 unsecured bonds. Their next court date is Sept. 19.