CANTON Police arrested a 37-year-old Antonio B. Hardeman who is facing a murder charge in connection with the beating death of a 2-year-old boy.
The victim, Kai’ja Derohn, was pronounced dead at Mercy Medical Center at 8:23 a.m. Saturday. The child was transported to the hospital after emergency personnel arrived at the home of the suspect and found the boy unresponsive.
The autopsy was performed Saturday and results submitted to city police. Hardeman, according to a booking form at the Stark County Jail, struck the boy in the mouth, and banged the child’s head against a headboard and a wall. Kai’ja’s mother called for emergency assistance, according to Police Chief Jack Angelo.
“From what I was told, it appeared the child was already deceased,” Angelo said. “But they transported him to the hospital.”
Angelo said he believes Hardeman was the boyfriend of the child’s mother. The boy’s mother is not facing any criminal charges in connection with Kai’ja’s death.
After police detectives were notified of the boy’s violent death, Hardeman was taken to police headquarters for questioning. Officers then secured a search warrant to look inside the home which is in a Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority Ellisdale Homes complex.
UPDATE: Man charged with murder in death of 2-year-old
Canton police arrest a 37-year-old man on suspicion of fatally beating a 2-year-old boy.
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