Boy fights for his life

December 5, 2012

By DEANNE JOHNSON - Staff Writer (djohnson@mojonews.com) , Morning Journal News

 

LISBON - Investigators continued Tuesday to investigate a shooting Monday afternoon which killed a state Route 45 woman and left her 5-year-old grandson injured with head wounds.
The woman has been identified as Melinda Todd, 43, and the boy as Cole Tyler Reed.
Monday afternoon, the boy was transported to Salem Community Hospital and flown to Akron Children's Hospital where he underwent surgery.
Chris Milsom, a grandfather of the boy, said Tuesday night the boy was in "very critical" condition and had been baptized at the hospital that evening. Milsom, who had just returned from the hospital, said any reports the child had died are erroneous, although the left side of the boy's head was "shot off."
"I hope everyone is praying for him," Milsom said. "He's critical, but he's a tough little guy."
Milsom identified his stepson as the boy's biological father, but said the father has not been in the boy's life. Despite that, Milsom said the boy's father was released from jail Tuesday due to his son battling for his life in Akron. The grandfather credited the staff at Akron Children's Hospital with giving the boy the best care and said he has hopes the sheriff's department can track down the person responsible for the killing of Todd and injuries to the boy.
Milsom has spoke with investigators himself, reportedly telling them about two green vehicles which had been at the home. The first he described as a green SUV was there on Sunday when he and his wife dropped off Cole at Melinda's home.
"There was a guy there with nasty tattoos, who wouldn't even look at my wife," Milsom said.
Secondly, Milsom said another person saw a man with a three-day beard in a four-door, green car, possibly a Chevrolet, "beating the crap out of the steering wheel" and talking on a cell phone in the area of Melinda Todd's home on Monday. When the man saw someone watching him, he reportedly took off at a high rate of speed.
Sheriff Ray Stone said Tuesday the department was looking initially for a green SUV on Monday, but had already started on other leads. He had four investigators continuing to follow up on leads and reinterview people throughout the afternoon on Tuesday.
Investigators from the Ohio Bureau of Identification and Investigation continued to look for evidence at the house, located at the intersection of state Route 45 and Salmar Drive.
Both Stone and the county coroner's office refused to identify the victims of the shooting at this time. Stone said he wanted to be certain all family members have been notified by the coroner's office before any confirmation could be made. Various news media outlets, including the Journal's news partner, WKBN Channel 27, identified the two early in the day Tuesday.
WKBN reported a 911 call came from a neighbor's house where two small girls ran after discovering the body of their mother. Stone had confirmed a 12-year-old girl had discovered the scene.
"My mother and my brother ... bleeding really bad, too," the voice of a girl reportedly told dispatchers.
Unfortunately, the family has already known tragedy in 2010. Cole is the eldest son of Miranda V. Todd, 24, who was convicted in June of murdering her youngest child, 7-month-old Derek Dennison in 2010. Todd is currently serving 18 years to life in the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville. An appeal of her conviction is still pending.
Melinda Todd had testified during her daughter's jury trial, stating at one point Miranda Todd had gone out about two weeks after Cole was born and then called Melinda to say she was not coming back. Cole had been raised by his grandmother, who in court said Miranda would come to visit on occasion, but Cole considered her as more of a sister.

Lisbon police calm disturbance at Salem child’s funeral

By MARY ANN GREIER and LARRY SHIELDS

POSTED: July 27, 2010

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LISBON - No new information was released regarding the death of 7-month-old Derek A. Dennison of Salem, but Lisbon Police had to respond to his funeral Monday after a fight nearly broke out and someone tried to take pictures of his body with a cell phone.
The first call came at 10:48 a.m. from a woman who said they needed officers at the Lisbon Cemetery chapel for a fight ready to break out at a funeral. Lisbon resident Rita Heim, maternal great-grandmother of the child, who died Friday, also called.
She told Chief John Higgins and Officer Shar Daub that she was having problems with her granddaughter, Miranda Todd, during the funeral for the baby identified as Derek Dennison. Todd was the child's mother. Heim said she was upset because of certain friends of Miranda's who showed up.
Todd said she was upset with Heim because she invited the Dennisons to the funeral and she didn't want them there. According to the report, she said that John Ingledue was the father of the baby and he and his family were there. She said they were waiting on the paternity test results.
According to the report, Daub got the mother to calm down, and since they weren't sure at this time, to allow everyone there to pay their respects. Police stood by until the service was over and everyone left.
Another call was reported at 10:50 a.m. from Brian Fullum, an investigator with the Columbiana County Coroner's Office, who said someone was trying to take pictures of the infant's body with a cell phone.
An officer responded to Eells-Leggett-Stauffer Funeral Home on West Lincoln Way in Lisbon where Fullum identified Gerald Joy of Carrollton as the person taking the pictures. Joy told the officer he was only taking the pictures because he didn't have any of the child. He was told he needed to remove the pictures from his phone and if he wanted pictures to contact the family for one. He said he deleted the pictures in Fullum's presence. He left without further incident.
According to the child's obituary, he was born Dec. 23, 2009, the son of Greg Dennison Jr. and Miranda Todd.
No cause of death has been released, with Fullum saying autopsy investigations can take from four to six months.
The Salem Police Department is also investigating after responding at 12:38 a.m. Friday to the Salem Community Hospital Emergency Room where the child had been declared dead.
The child was reportedly taken to the hospital in an unresponsive state by his mother, 22, of 264 N. Ellsworth Ave. Apt. 4, Salem. Efforts to revive the child at that time failed.
Police Chief Bob Floor said events leading up to the death of the child remain unclear and are being investigated as suspicious out of protocol.
"We're investigating it as suspicious," he said. "It hasn't been declared suspicious but that's the way we go until we get the word otherwise."
On Friday, Floor noted there were no suspects in the case at that time, but there were multiple individuals being interviewed in an attempt to gather information about the incident.
The Columbiana County Sheriff's Office originally responded to the report, but immediate investigation determined that whatever occurred likely happened in the city.
Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreier@salemnews.net and Larry Shields can be reached at lshields@salemnews.net

Miranda Todd Gets Trial Date For Death of Infant Son....

March 1, 2011 - By MARY ANN GREIER (mgreier@reviewonline.com)   LISBON - A trial date of Aug. 15 has been set for Miranda V. Todd, the 23-year-old former Salem woman charged with murder, involuntary manslaughter and endangering children in the death of her infant son. Todd appeared Monday morning for a scheduling hearing and agreed to waive the time requirement for trying her case, giving her attorneys and the state more time to prepare. The scheduling conference had been set for March 10, but was moved up due to the short try-by time. She's been in jail since being arrested in December, with a $250,000 cash or surety bond continued. A status hearing was set for 9 a.m. Aug. 5 and a motions hearing was set for 9 a.m. March 18. The charges all stem from the July 23 death of Todd's 7-month-old son, Derek Dennison. Salem Police were called to the emergency room at Salem Community Hospital that day for a deceased infant who had "multiple bruises and swelling to his head," according to an affidavit by Det. Dave Talbert. She had taken him to the hospital in an unresponsive state from the residence where she lived at the time on Ellsworth Avenue in Salem. Talbert also said an autopsy "revealed numerous injuries including skull and rib fractures," with it appearing that some injuries happened over a stretch of time. Todd was originally charged with endangering children, then the grand jury issued an indictment for murder, involuntary manslaughter and endangering children. If convicted of all three charges and ordered to serve consecutive sentences, she could be facing 30 years to life in prison, with a sentence of 15 years to life for murder, a maximum 10 years for manslaughter and a maximum five years for endangering children. The murder indictment alleges that on or about July 22, Todd purposely caused the death of her son, while the involuntary manslaughter indictment alleges that on or about the month of July, she caused his death as a result of committing the offense of endangering children. The endangering children charge alleges that on or about the month of July, she created "a substantial risk to the health or safety of Derek Dennison, by violating a duty of care, protection, or support, when such violation resulted in Derek Dennison suffering serious physical harm."

Lawyers for Salem mom accused of killing son seek experts for trial

March 19, 2011 - By DEANNE JOHNSON   LISBON - Attorneys for Miranda Todd, 23, the Salem woman charged in the death of her 7-month-old son, filed two motions Thursday morning. The first was for the court to appropriate money for experts to review the evidence in the case. Defense attorney Jennifer Gorby asked for money for both a defense investigator and for a medical expert. The medical expert would be charged with reviewing both the medical records and autopsy from the death of Derek Dennison. The boy died on July 23. Salem police were called to the emergency room at Salem Community Hospital when medical officials reported the deceased infant had "multiple bruises and swelling to his head," according to an affidavit by Detective Dave Talbert. Todd had taken him to the emergency room in an unresponsive state from the residence where she lived at the time on Ellsworth Avenue in Salem. Talbert also said an autopsy "revealed numerous injuries including skull and rib fractures," with it appearing that some injuries happened over time. Todd faces charges of murder, involuntary manslaughter and endangering children in connection with the death of her son. If convicted of all three charges, Todd could be facing between 30 years and life in prison. The second motion filed Thursday was for a reduced bond. Todd has remained in jail on a $250,000 cash or surety bond since her arrest in December. Her attorneys argued she is a lifelong resident of Columbiana County and Salem with family in the area and no criminal history. They asked for a personal recognizance bond with electronic monitoring. However, prosecuting attorney Tim McNicol argued Todd is unemployed, moved four times during the investigation, has two children in the area she does not have custody of and has a father in Oklahoma. Judge Scott Washam said he would take the motions under advisement. djohnson@mojonews.com

Judge won’t quit Salem murder case

June 11, 2011

By DEANNE JOHNSON , Salem News

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LISBON - Columbiana County Common Pleas Judge Scott Washam denied a request by the prosecutor's office Friday that he step down as the judge for future hearings involving the murder, involuntary manslaughter and endangering children charges against Miranda V. Todd.
Prosecuting attorneys Timothy McNicol and Tammy Jones had filed the request May 23, asking Washam to transfer the case because of at least one previous time he had dealt with Todd during his time as a magistrate for juvenile court.
See TODD, 5A
"The state is attempting to prevent any appellant issues in the future," McNicol said in court, adding a similar motion was allowed in a case involving Randy A. Wylie. He is an East Palestine man charged with endangering children and a motion made by his attorneys for Washam to transfer the case happened.
Washam said the difference in that case was that it was Wylie's attorneys who filed the motion and not the state. He also pointed out in the case of Wylie, the child lived, while Todd's son, 7-month-old Derek Dennison, had died.
Todd's attorneys, Charlie Kidder and Jennifer Gorby, also had filed a response to the motion asking that Washam deny the request and remain. Washam asked Todd directly if she agreed with the motion her attorneys had filed, which she affirmed.
Gorby also indicated the defense has been attempting to get a medical expert to look at the evidence, but had yet to be able to do so. She pointed out there may be a need to reschedule the trial, which is currently set for Aug. 15. A status hearing on the issue was set for June 30.
Todd faces 30 years to life in prison if convicted of all three charges. She remains in custody.
On July 23, 2010, Todd had taken her son to the emergency room at Salem Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The autopsy report included numerous injuries to the child's skull and rib fractures, according to Salem Detective Dave Talbert.

Salem woman bound over in child endangerment case

December 24, 2010 - By DEANNE JOHNSON (Staff Writer)

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LISBON - The Salem woman accused in the death of her toddler will have the third-degree felony charge heard in Common Pleas Court.
Miranda Todd, 23, McCracken Road, Salem, was bound over to the court on an endangering children charge after she agreed to waive her rights to a preliminary hearing in County Municipal Court on Thursday.
According to court documents, Salem Detective David Talbert reported Todd's 17-month-old child was found to have multiple bruises and swelling to his head when pronounced dead at Salem Community Hospital on July 23. The coroner's report from Cuyahoga County also found the baby had skull and rib fractures among other injuries.
If convicted on the single charge, Todd faces one to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. However, County Prosecutor Robert Herron has indicated additional charges against Todd may be brought through the grand jury.

Infant death will be handled as homicide

By MARY ANN GREIER and LARRY SHIELDS (Special to The Review)

POSTED: July 28, 2010

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LISBON - Columbiana County Prosecutor Robert Herron said the death of 7-month-old Derek Dennison will be investigated as a homicide due to "the nature of the injuries suffered (by the child)."

Herron explained he advised Salem Police to treat it as a homicide investigation after hearing the preliminary findings of the Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office in conjunction with the Columbiana County Coroner's Office.

He wouldn't elaborate on the injuries, adding he wasn't going to speculate on what may have happened. He said the investigation was focused on the three adults in the residence at 264 N. Ellsworth Ave., Apt. 4 in Salem, although he said they weren't named as suspects.

He identified them as Miranda Todd, the 22-year-old mother of the dead infant, and Steve Van Pelt and Kaylee Stiffler, the two people she lived with at the residence.

"That's where the focus of the investigation is now," he said.

Todd took the baby to the emergency room of Salem Community Hospital early Friday morning. The child was in an unresponsive state and efforts to revive him failed.

Police responded to the hospital at 12:38 a.m. Friday after the child was declared dead.

Herron said Todd, Van Pelt and Stiffler were all living together at the time the death occurred. When asked if he could tell when the child was injured, he said "we've established a time frame, but I'm not going to comment on that."

Salem Police Chief Bob Floor said his department was looking at several "people of interest" in the case he called a "possible homicide."

The Columbiana County Coroner's Office wasn't releasing a cause of death or the results of preliminary findings. Investigator Brian K. Fullum said autopsy investigations can take from four to six months.

Floor said three officers were working on the case with both male and female "multiple people of interest" being investigated.

"We haven't referred to anyone as a suspect yet," he said, adding there has not been a ruling on the death, however if enough evidence is put together, "we could make an arrest with or without it."

The Columbiana County Sheriff's Office originally responded to the report, but immediate investigation determined that whatever occurred likely happened in the city.

Herron said it's likely if any charges are filed, they'll go through the grand jury via secret indictment.

Mother pleads innocent to murder

February 18, 2011 - By MARY ANN GREIER Staff Writer

 

LISBON - A former Salem woman accused of purposely causing the 2010 death of her infant son pleaded innocent to charges of murder, involuntary manslaughter and endangering children.
Miranda V. Todd, 23, whose last known address was listed as the county jail in Lisbon, cried as she appeared for arraignment Thursday afternoon in county Common Pleas Court before Judge C. Ashley Pike.
She was originally scheduled to appear through video arraignment from the jail, but due to technical difficulties, she was transported in shackles and chains by deputies so she could appear in person, along with some other defendants.
A $250,000 cash or surety bond was continued, ensuring she will remain in jail where she has been in custody since Dec. 14. She was found to be indigent and was appointed counsel at county expense, with Salem attorneys Jennifer Gorby and Charley Kidder named as her defense team.
Salem police were called to the emergency room at Salem Community Hospital on July 23 for a deceased infant who had "multiple bruises and swelling to his head," according to an affidavit by Detective Dave Talbert.
The infant was Todd's 7-month-old son, Derek Dennison. Todd had been living in a residence on North Ellsworth Avenue in Salem at the time and took him to the hospital in an unresponsive state. Efforts to revive him failed.
In the affidavit, Talbert said the autopsy performed on the child by the Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office "revealed numerous injuries including skull and rib fractures." He also said it appeared the injuries occurred over time.
Talbert had filed the affidavit when Todd was charged in December in county Municipal Court with endangering children after authorities heard she may be leaving town. She was indicted last month by the county grand jury for the other charges, along with the endangering children charge.
If convicted of all three charges and ordered to serve consecutive sentences, she could be facing 30 years to life in prison, with a sentence of 15 years to life for murder, a maximum 10 years for manslaughter and a maximum five years for endangering children.
The murder indictment alleges that on or about July 22, Todd purposely caused the death of her son, while the involuntary manslaughter indictment alleges that on or about the month of July, she caused his death as a result of committing the offense of endangering children.
The endangering children charge alleges that on or about the month of July, she created "a substantial risk to the health or safety of Derek Dennison, by violating a duty of care, protection, or support, when such violation resulted in Derek Dennison suffering serious physical harm." Talbert's affidavit alleged she failed to obtain appropriate medical treatment for injuries sustained by her son.
No hearing dates have been set.
Also among those appearing for arraignment and pleading innocent to charges were David Wright Jr., 25, of 1766 Clark Ave., Wellsville, and Erica Coil, 24, whose last known address was Wood Alley, East Liverpool.
Wright is charged with aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony, for allegedly invading an elderly woman's home in Wellsville and injuring her on Dec. 28. Court documents alleged he pushed the 75-year-old woman, resulting in her suffering a broken rib, sprained wrist and bruised side. The charge carries a possible penalty of three to 10 years in prison if he's convicted.
Coil is charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony which carries a possible penalty of two to eight years in prison. The indictment alleged she tried to harm James Plum Jr. with a knife on Oct. 24 at the Wood Alley residence.
mgreier@salemnews.net

Way to Go Detective Dave Talbert!!! :):):)

Salem woman faces endangering charge

December 16, 2010 - By MARY ANN GREIER

 

LISBON - The mother of a child whose death is being treated as a homicide has been charged with endangering children, but more charges are expected against her related to the boy's death.
Miranda V. Todd, 23, of 4735 McCracken Road, Salem, was taken into custody late Tuesday night at her current residence by deputies from the Columbiana County Sheriff's Office for the third-degree felony charge filed by Salem Police.
The July 23 death of 7-month-old Derek A. Dennison remains under investigation, according to county Prosecutor Robert Herron, but he's anticipating presenting the case to the grand jury soon.
He said he's expecting other charges will be filed against Todd through the grand jury related to her child's death.
When asked if charges would be filed against anyone else, he said, "I don't anticipate that at this point."
Salem Police Det. David Talbert said they had information that she was planning on leaving town, prompting them to file the endangering children charge. The charge filed in county Municipal Court alleges that as the parent of the child, she created a substantial risk to his health and safety by violating a duty of care, protection or support when the violation resulted in him suffering serious harm.
In an affidavit filed with the charge, Talbert recounted how he was called to Salem Community Hospital on July 23 in reference to a deceased infant who had "multiple bruises and swelling to his head." He said the autopsy performed on the child by the Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office "revealed numerous injuries including skull and rib fractures."
The affidavit alleged Todd failed to obtain appropriate medical treatment of the injuries sustained by the child. When questioned about the injuries, Talbert said they believed they happened over a period of time leading up to Derek's death. He would have celebrated his first birthday on Dec. 23.
Both Talbert and Herron said they'll be requesting a significant bond during Todd's arraignment, which was expected to happen this morning in county Municipal Court via video from the jail. Herron explained they had information that she has a relative out of state and there's been some consideration that she may leave the area. He noted she doesn't have a stable residence, maintaining numerous residences during the course of the investigation. She also recently lost a job of short duration.
"She knows she's the focus of the investigation," he said.
Todd was living at the McCracken Road residence with her boyfriend, John Ingledue, whom she claimed was the child's father during an incident at the child's funeral which resulted in Lisbon Police being called. In his obituary, the boy's father was listed as Greg Dennison Jr.
"It's a very emotional case, anytime a child dies, especially in a case where there's neglect or intent," Talbert said. "My heart goes out to the family, but we'll be driven to make sure justice is served on this."
He said the investigation has been a team effort, mentioning both the prosecutor's office and the coroner's office.
Talbert closed the books on another infant death being investigated by Salem Police, saying no charges will be filed in the death of 7 1/2-month-old Mackenzie Everly, who died Sept. 1. He said it was determined an underlying medical condition led to her death. Police had not considered the death suspicious, but any time a child under the age of 2 dies, an autopsy is performed.
Talbert said a third child death remained under investigation. Salem Police had said previously the Oct. 31 death of 21-month-old Braydon T. Eichler appeared to be accidental after an oven fell on him.
Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreier@salemnews.net

Salem police, coroner probe infant’s death

By KEVIN HOWELL

POSTED: July 24, 2010

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SALEM- The Salem Police Department and Columbiana County Coroner's Office are investigating the death of a 7-month-old infant.
Salem police responded to the Salem Community Hospital Emergency Room at 12:38 a.m. Friday where the child, identified as Derek A. Dennison, had been declared dead.
The child was reportedly taken to the hospital in an unresponsive state by his mother, Miranda Todd, 22, of 264 N. Ellsworth Ave. Apt. 4, Salem. Efforts to revive the child at that time failed.
The coroner's office has yet to determine the cause of death.
According to Police Chief Bob Floor, the events leading up to the death of the child remain unclear and are being investigated as suspicious out of protocol.
"We're investigating it as suspicious," he said. "It hasn't been declared suspicious but that's the way we go until we get the word otherwise."
Floor also noted that there are currently no suspects in the case, but there are multiple individuals being interviewed in an attempt to gather information about the incident.
The Columbiana County Sheriff's Office originally responded to the report, but immediate investigation determined it likely happened within the city.
Kevin Howell can be reached at khowell@salemnews.net

Baby’s death ruled homicide

September 8, 2010 - By DEANNE JOHNSON/Staff Writer

 

SALEM - The death in July of a 7-month-old boy has been ruled a homicide, according to the report released Tuesday by the Columbiana County coroner.
Using descriptions including multiple injuries to the head and body caused by blunt-force trauma, the report verifies the cause of death suspected as a possibility early on by police.
"This child sustained multiple injuries," Talbert said, "in multiple stages of healing."
Talbert and police Chief Robert Floor both said from the beginning the case was being investigated as "suspicious." What followed were months of investigation by police. Talbert said he has interviewed and reinterviewed family members and others, reviewed the preliminary report of the coroner and met with doctors.
The official ruling of homicide is another step in the case, and Talbert said he has been going over it extensively, but no charges had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon. The case remains under investigation, however Talbert said it is progressing.
Derek Andrew Dennison died July 23, the day he turned seven months old. Salem police were called to Salem Community Hospital at 12:38 a.m. on that Friday to investigate the death of the child. His mother, Miranda Todd, 22, 264 N. Ellsworth Ave., Apt. 4, had taken him to the hospital herself. He was unresponsive, and doctors were unable to revive him.
Greg Dennison was the boy's father, according to his obituary.
During the child's funeral in Lisbon, police were called due to arguments between family members and other guests at the funeral. One police report at the time stated someone attempted to take a photo of the dead infant with a cell phone.
Talbert also commented Tuesday on the death of a 7 -month-old girl, who died Sept. 1. The death of Mackenzie Rose Everly, does not appear at this point to have been a case of foul play, according to Talbert. However, he still is awaiting the preliminary report from the autopsy.
Police tried to revive the infant in front of her home at 167 W. Seventh St., after someone called to report she was not breathing. Her parents are listed as Mark and Sonya Everly.
djohnson@mojonews.com