2 plead not guilty in tot's death

Rachael Searcy appears in Common Pleas Court for arraignment.

BLADE

Rachael Searcy appears in Common Pleas Court for arraignment.

A Maumee woman and her boyfriend were arraigned yesterday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court on involuntary manslaughter and other charges in the death of her 15-month-old daughter.

Rachael Searcy, 22, and Thomas J. Hoskinson, 25, appeared before Judge James Bates. They were indicted last week in the death of Delia Searcy, who authorities said had been abused in the weeks prior to her death.

Mrs. Searcy's attorney, Adrian Cimerman, and Hoskinson's attorney, John Thebes, entered not-guilty pleas to all the counts on their clients' behalf. A trial was set for Feb. 11.

Delia was rushed to St. Luke's Hospital about 6 a.m. Nov. 26 after she had stopped breathing in an upstairs bedroom at 2091/2 West Dudley St., which is the home of Mrs. Searcy's father. She and her children had moved into the residence the weekend before Delia's death.

An autopsy conducted by the county coroner revealed that Delia had been abused before her death, and she died from complications of a blood clot in the lung that likely was caused by bone fractures. She had a broken arm, leg, and rib.

Mrs. Searcy, who was arrested Nov. 28, also is charged with permitting child abuse and endangering children.

Thomas J. Hoskinson appears in Common Pleas Court for arraignment.

Before yesterday's arraignment, she had been held in the county jail in lieu of $100,000 bond. Judge Bates yesterday lowered the bond to $25,000.

Hoskinson, of 5648 Mantey Lane, was arrested the day after Delia's death on unrelated domestic violence and drug charges. He was later charged in the child's death after he admitted to injuring her, authorities said. His bond, which had been $500,000, was lowered yesterday to $100,000.

In addition to involuntary manslaughter, Hoskinson faces four counts of felonious assault that accuse him of inflicting the injuries that caused the fractures, bruises, and abrasions to the child.

Prosecutors said Mrs. Searcy is charged with involuntary manslaughter because she knew about the abuse but did not take measures to prevent it and did not get medical treatment for her daughter.

A grand jury also indicted Hoskinson last week on one count of possession of cocaine. The charge stems from a search March 21 of a storage locker in the 3600 block of Secor Road in which police found money and 128 grams of powder cocaine.