Man charged with child endangering after infant found in bathtub

1/2/2018

The Blade
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A central city man is charged in connection with the death of an 11-month-old child after he placed the baby in a bathtub unsupervised, according to an affidavit filed in Toledo Municipal Court.

Eric J. Mathis, 30, of the 2400 block of Nebraska Avenue, is charged with endangering children, a second-degree felony. 

Mr. Mathis was watching his girlfriend’s son Monday at their home in the Liberty Mobil Home Park. He placed the boy in the bathtub unsupervised, according to court records. 

The boy’s mother was not home at the time, Toledo Police Department Sgt. Kevan Toney said. 

The boy was later found face down and unresponsive, according to police. The baby was taken to a hospital and pronounced deceased, court records show. 

An autopsy is scheduled on Wednesday at the Lucas County Coroner’s Office. 

Mr. Mathis was arrested by Toledo police and booked in the Lucas County jail on Monday, according to jail records. 

He was arraigned before a Toledo Municipal Court judge Tuesday, where his bond was set at $100,000. 

He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 9.

There was no answer at Mr. Mathis’ residence on Tuesday.  

This marks the second time within a year a local boyfriend or girlfriend faces criminal charges related to the death of a partner’s infant.

An Oregon woman, Angie Walker, 40, is accused of causing the death of Levi Ashley last spring. A Lucas County grand jury returned an indictment in May on charges of murder, felonious assault, and endangering children.

Investigators said Ms. Walker, a mother of three children, was the girlfriend of the boy’s father, Antonio Burkey.

Ms. Walker's trial is scheduled for Feb. 5.

The incident was reported April 25 at a home in the 100 block of Waterfox Drive in Oregon.

An autopsy determined the baby died of abusive head trauma, including brain and optic-nerve injuries. Officials ruled his death as a homicide.

Contact Allison Reamer at areamer@theblade.com, 419-724-6506 or on Twitter @AllisonRBlade.