From SENECA COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE
Seneca County Prosecuting Attorney Derek DeVine and Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Dobson announced that on Wednesday, July 12, the Seneca County Grand Jury issued an indictment against Jonathan J. Baker for Kidnapping and Aggravated Murder.
Kidnapping is a felony of the first degree carrying a maximum penalty of 11 to 161⁄2 years in prison. Aggravated Murder as charged carries a maximum penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The indictment specifies that the grand jurors reserved the right to issue a superseding indictment for Aggravated Murder charges which could result in the death penalty.
The indictment stems from a June 27 incident which began in Wood County when Baker allegedly removed the infant child of his ex-girlfriend from her care. Baker is alleged to have rejected requests by the mother and the North Baltimore Police Department by telephone to return the child. The situation became more serious when Baker allegedly began making comments about harming the child.
At that point, a notice was sent to all area law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for Baker’s vehicle. This resulted a short time later in a pursuit with Tiffin police and Seneca County Sheriffs deputies which ended when Baker’s vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a house in Tiffin.
The infant was located in the vehicle with allegedly critical injuries and was taken to Tiffin Mercy Hospital, where she was declared deceased. The preliminary results from an autopsy by the Lucas County Coroner’s Office determined the infant was shot twice and died from the wounds.
Baker was taken in critical condition to an area hospital. A warrant was issued by the Seneca County courts and he was taken into custody by the Seneca County Sheriff this morning.
At this time the Sheriff is waiting on medical clearance for Baker to be released from the hospital. Baker will face the charges in SenecaCounty Court of Common Pleas.
The Seneca County and Wood County Prosecutors have agreed to a joint prosecution as the incident involved both counties. While the case will be prosecuted in Seneca County, Mr. De Vine will be assisted by Wood County Assistant Prosecutors Brian Boos and Charles McDonald.
