By COLIN KALMBACHER
Christopher Ledoux, 38, was indicted by an Ohio grand jury on Thursday over the death of his two-month-old baby girl.
âOn or about November 17, 2020, at the County of Fairfield, State of Ohio or venue being properly placed there pursuant to §2901.12(H), aforesaid, Christopher Ledoux, unlawfully did recklessly cause the death of C.L. in violation of §2903.041(B) of the Ohio Revised Code,â the indictment obtained by Law&Crime reads in relevant part.
Firefighters and EMTs arrived at the childâs home just before 4 a.m. on the night in question in response to a âfranticâ 911 call that stated the girl couldnât breathe, according to local CBS affiliate WBNS-TV. Neighbors said they could hear CPR being performed on the child. But those efforts were all in vain.
Christina Ledoux was pronounced dead at the Nationwide Childrenâs Hospital in Columbus, Ohio late November last year. The infantâs death was immediately investigated by local police as a homicide.
Details about the childâs alleged killing have been scarce and a motive has not been offered â publicly, at least â by investigators.
An autopsy report later confirmed that Christina died after she choked on a baby wipe. Prosecutors allege that Ledoux stuck the wipe inside his own daughterâs mouth.
On Thursday, Ledoux was indicted on one count of reckless homicide by the Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas. He turned himself in hours later and is currently being held in the Fairfield County Jail.
Court documents reviewed by Law&Crime show that a warrant was also issued on the day of the indictment. Later that same day, Ohio attorney Samuel Shamansky placed a notice of appearance in the case and is currently representing Ledoux as defense counsel. Ledoux subsequently turned himself in.
The DA has cited Ledouxâs prior âfelony drug possession conviction in 2012â as well as his history of drug and/or alcohol addiction âthat could affect court appearancesâ as the reason for the tough bail conditions â along with the violence of the alleged crime and that the defendant is charged with a âvictim oriented offense.â
An arraignment in the case is currently scheduled for March 29 via teleconference and will be held in front of Judge Jillian Boone.
Reckless homicide is a third degree felony in Ohio.
The statute briefly notes, in full:
(A) No person shall recklessly cause the death of another or the unlawful termination of anotherâs pregnancy.
(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of reckless homicide, a felony of the third degree.
Under the law, ârecklessâ in the context of reckless homicide means that a person knew that their actions were likely to cause grievous injury or death but that they stayed the course and went on with them anyway. Reckless homicide is often contrasted with negligent homicide â where a person should have known but did not know about the potentially violent and/or ruinous severity of their actions.
[image via Fairfield County Jail]
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