An abducted Ohio infant has died after the suspect drove into a house at full-speed, police say. Authorities have not filed charges at this point but are investigating the case as a homicide.
According to the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, a 23-year-old armed man abducted a 7-month-old baby girl Tuesday. Police confirmed Wednesday the suspect was in a relationship with the baby’s mother. They were not able to confirm whether the man is the baby’s father.
According to the 911 call, the North Baltimore Police Chief responded to a domestic dispute and said the suspect was homicidal and suicidal, threatening the child’s life. The baby’s mother was tracking the suspect’s location through her phone, which eventually helped authorities find him. Police had an indication the man may have been armed because his location showed he had been at a firearms store in Findlay earlier in the day.
The audio from the 911 call includes a moment where the suspect had called the baby’s mother while he was on the run.
“Anything you’d like to say to me before I say my goodbyes?” the suspect asked. The mother is heard pleading for her boyfriend to bring her baby back. He also claimed to have killed the baby during the phone call.
An off-duty officer spotted the yellow Camaro the suspect was driving and alerted authorities of its location. Police tried to pull the vehicle over but the suspect led officers on a chase. He eventually accelerated at a high speed and veered off the road, hitting a house on Sandusky Street at full-speed.
Authorities surrounded the vehicle and broke the back window to get the baby out. Police say the 7-month-old was bleeding and had shallow breathing. The suspect was extricated from the vehicle and both were taken to an area hospital for treatment. According to Tiffin Police, the infant died from her injuries. The man is in critical condition.
“The collaboration with our partners in law enforcement and Fire and EMS was once again on display during this tragic and rapidly evolving incident,” Seneca County Sheriff Stevens said in a statement Tuesday. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of this innocent baby and to the deputies, officers and EMS that were involved in the lifesaving attempt for this infant. No one should have to deal with tragedy like this but unfortunately, they did today.”
Tell us your thoughts...