Ohio man abducts infant, kills her in car crash while fleeing police
An Ohio man has been hospitalised in serious condition after he abducted his girlfriend’s infant daughter and then crashed into a house during a police chase, resulting in the baby’s death.
Johnathan Baker, 23, reportedly took the seven-month-old baby following an argument with the girl’s mother on Tuesday in North Baltimore, Ohio police said.
Baker had reportedly told his girlfriend, the baby’s mother, that he was feeling suicidal and homicidal and claimed that he had killed the baby girl.
The mother called police to report the abduction and threats and said she believed Baker was armed.
North Baltimore Police issued an alert to be on the lookout for Baker and his yellow Camaro and an off-duty cop spotted his car based on the description provided by the office.
He followed Baker and informed colleagues who rushed to the location in police cruisers, police chief David Pauly said.
When officers attempted to pull Baker over, he floored the gas pedal and crashed into a house at full speed, the police chief said.
“The Camaro began accelerating at a high rate of speed, erratically drove off the roadway through the front yard of one residence and crashed into another residence, knocking it off its foundation,” Pauly said in a statement.
No one was inside the home at the time.
Officers broke open the back window of the Camaro and pulled out the infant, who was bleeding from the head and had laboured breathing, police said.
Emergency responders provided first aid to the baby and Baker on the scene and they were both taken by helicopter to Tiffin Mercy Hospital.
The baby girl died of her injuries shortly after arriving at the hospital while Baker remains in critical condition.
“My heart breaks for the family of this innocent child and you can be sure this matter will be investigated thoroughly to determine exactly why and what occurred today,” Pauly said in a statement Tuesday.
Detectives found a loaded firearm in the Camaro as well as two spent cartridges.
Police did not say if Baker is the father of the girl.
