Former Toledoan found competent to stand trial in child death case

9/11/2018

Kendra Hunter, 40, shows a photo on her phone of her granddaughter Serenity Hunter, 1, who died April 4 after being injured at her home in Toledo.

THE BLADE
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A former North Toledo man accused of killing his girlfriend’s 1-year-old daughter was found competent to stand trial.

Joshua M. Herron, 30, who now lists an address in Canton, Ohio, previously pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to charges of aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, and endangering children stemming from the April 4 death of Serenity Hunter. 

Mr. Herron was found competent to stand trial in a first psychological evaluation and in a second report, which was submitted to the court last week. 

On Tuesday, Mr. Herron was arraigned in Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge Stacy Cook’s courtroom. He withdrew his previous plea and pleaded not guilty to each of the four counts. 

According to police reports, Mr. Herron took the girl to Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center and told a detective he became upset with her, grabbed her by the face, shook her, and threw her onto the couch several times. 

On Tuesday, Judge Cook continued bond at $2.5 million.