CLEVELAND — Editor's Note: The above video features previous reporting on this story
The Cleveland Division of Police has announced that the September death of a 1-year-old boy in a bathtub has been ruled as a homicide.
On September 25, police responded to a home on the 4700 block of Woodland Avenue around 10:35 p.m. and found a child in a bathtub with his heart stopped. EMS crews rushed him to UH Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, but could not revive him.
Officers spoke with a 25-year-old man whose care the infant was under. He told police that he watching the victim and three other kids. He was giving the 1-year-old a bath when he walked away and went downstairs, making several calls before returning upstairs and finding the victim in the bath with his eyes closed. The man stated that he went to change the infant and that’s when he realized that the victim was responsive.
A juvenile in the house called 911 and the man began giving chest compressions until EMS arrived. Members of the Cleveland Division of Police's Homicide Unit arrived on scene for investigation. The man was placed under arrest on the charge of Endangering Children.
The Cuyahoga Medical Examiner’s Office took possession of the body to determine cause of death and informed Cleveland police on Wednesday that the case was ruled a homicide. The victim suffered blunt force trauma to the head, face, body and extremities.
This matter remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 216-623-5464. Anonymous information can be provided by calling CrimeStoppers at 216-25-CRIME and a cash reward of up to $5,000 may be available.
PREVIOUS REPORT: 1-year-old boy dies after being found in Cleveland bathtub; mother's boyfriend arrested on child endangerment charges
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