BORDERLAND

Defiance man accused in baby’s death still held

1/31/2014

STRYKER, Ohio — A Defiance man accused of killing a 5-month-old baby remained in jail on a $2 million bond Thursday, authorities said.

James L. Cooper, 29, was indicted Wednesday in Defiance Municipal Court on one charge each of murder and felonious assault in the death of Lylah Wilson, who died Sunday in Toledo Hospital, according to the Defiance County prosecutor’s office. Mr. Cooper was held on the bond at Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio near Stryker pending his arraignment at the Defiance County Common Pleas Court at a date not yet set.

Defiance County Prosecuting Attorney Morris Murray said the child died from closed head injuries to the brain. The official cause of death was pending an autopsy by the Lucas County Coroner’s Office.

Defiance police and firefighters, responding to a report of a child not breathing Friday, found the victim at a Corwin Street address in Defiance about 7:05 a.m., police said.