A 31-year-old man has been charged in connection with fatal injuries to a 3-year-old.
Alex Morris was indicted on charges of murder, involuntary manslaughter, felonious assault, two counts of endangering children and permitting child abuse.
Richland County Prosecutor Jodie Schumacher released details about the June session of grand jury on July 16.
The case began in May 2024 when the Mansfield Police Department and Richland County Sheriff’s Office investigated the child’s death.
Initial reports were the child died in a choking incident in the 300 block of Sherman Place.
“Through the investigation, the injuries were not matching the verbal recitation that was provided (by Morris),” Schumacher said.
The 3-year-old suffered “significant trauma,” the prosecutor added, including subdural hematomas.
A subdural hematoma is a life-threatening collection of blood between the brain and the skull’s tough outer covering, typically caused by torn bridging veins from head trauma.
Schumacher said the child was flown by medical helicopter to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus. Other injuries were to the jaw, neck and torso. The initial cause of death was listed as “could not be determined.”
“That’s one of the reasons the investigation took so long,” Schumacher said. “The most important thing is narrowing down the time frame when injuries may have occurred.”
A warrant for Morris was issued May 26. U.S. Marshals found Morris at a house in the 2800 block of Township Road 164 in Cardington and arrested him without incident June 25.
The second charge of endangering children involves an infant who suffered broken ribs.
Reach Mark Caudill at 419-521-7219 or via X at @MarkCau32059251.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Child’s death leads to charges, including murder
Reporting by Mark Caudill, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
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By Mark Caudill, Mansfield News Journal | USA TODAY Network
