Father arraigned in baby's death
4/10/2003OTTAWA, Ohio - Ricky Daniels sat hunched over, his eyes facing the floor as he appeared in court yesterday for the first time to face charges stemming from the death of his 5-month-old son.
Mr. Daniels, 23, slowly shook his head back and forth as Judge Michael O'Malley told him he faces one count of child endangering, a second-degree felony. Mr. Daniels hardly looked at the judge or said much throughout the brief arraignment in Putnam County Court.
The Columbus Grove father faces a charge of child endangering for the death of his son, Trey, who authorities said died of shaken baby syndrome. That's when an infant is shaken so violently that the brain is damaged, causing internal bleeding.
The baby died April 1 in St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo, where he was taken from St. Rita's Medical Center, Lima. Trey initially was transported to the Lima hospital after his father called rescue crews early the morning of March 30.
Mr. Daniels was the only one home at the time the baby stopped breathing, authorities said.
The infant's mother, Michelle Boden, 20, watched the court proceedings along with Mr. Daniels' mother, Cindy Girardot. A third woman with them wore a button on her jacket that showed a photograph of a young baby.
The women, who wiped tears from their faces during and after they left the courtroom, all declined comment.
Judge O'Malley ordered Mr. Daniels to remain in the Putnam County Detention Center in lieu of $75,000 bond. He said an attorney would be appointed for Mr. Daniels. The judge then scheduled a preliminary hearing for 10:30 a.m. April 16.
Sheriff James Beutler said a special grand jury could be called to consider additional charges against Mr. Daniels.