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Dad makes court appearance in baby death case
The father charged in connection with the death of his five-month-old baby appeared in Greene Circuit Court Tuesday morning for his initial hearing on two criminal counts.
John A. Jeffers, 24, of 1502 Franklin St. in Martinsville, entered a not guilty plea to a class A felony count of neglect of a dependent causing death; and possession of marijuana, a class A misdemeanor.
Circuit Judge Erik Allen appointed Greene County Public Defender Alan Baughman to represent Jeffers in a jury trial set for 9 a.m. on Oct. 20.
A pre-trial conference has been set for Sept. 29.
Jeffers bond remained at $40,000 cash only.
Extreme heat inside a closed, non-ventilated rural Greene County home has been alleged to be the cause of death for five-month-old child Micheal Jeffers in late June.
Police allege the boy's father is responsible by his neglect for causing the heat stroke that killed his son.
Jeffers turned himself in at the Greene County Jail at 11:58 a.m. Monday after learning a warrant had been issued for his arrest. The charges are linked to the June 26 death of his son at his former residence west of Koleen in Greene County.
The criminal charge comes following an investigation into the infant boy's death by the Greene County Sheriff's Department in cooperation with the Greene County Office of Child Protective Services (CPS) and the Greene County Coroner's office.
In a probable cause affidavit filed with the court, lead investigator GCSD Det. George Dallaire said the young boy's death is being traced to extreme heat conditions in his home.
Det. Dallaire wrote in his seven-page probable cause affidavit that "the autopsy report from Dr. (Roland) Kohr, a forensic pathologist, indicated Micheal Jeffers' manner of death was homicide and the cause of death was heat stroke," Dallaire wrote.
"Dr. Kohr said the petechial hemorrhage seen in Micheal Jeffers' heart and lungs also support a severe heat injury causing Micheal's death," according to Dallaire's probable cause affidavit.
The autopsy also noted contusions to the infant's left leg and he had an open sore on his buttocks.
The young boy, who was born pre-mature and spent more than three months at Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis after his birth but suffered no serious medical complications, was found in the living room on a couch cushion.
He was not breathing.
Three other children and John Jeffers were allegedly in a nearby room watching a movie on television when the baby's death occurred. All three children are now in custody of a family member.
Det. Dallaire said the room where the baby's body was found was very warm.
"The living room Micheal was found in did not have an open window or a fan. The home did not have any form of air-conditioning. The thermostat on the living room wall indicated the room temperature was 87 degrees," Dallaire wrote. "I did not think the thermostat was accurate. It felt hotter and the air was very humid. Heat and humidity was very bad in the home. My shirt was soaked with sweat when I completed this examination. The outside air was approximately 90 degrees and the interior of this residence felt hotter than the outside air."
Dallaire alleges that the boy being placed in he car seat also contributed to his death.
"Dr. Kohr said had Micheal Jeffers parents opened windows and had a fan blowing air in the room, or on Micheal, he would not have suffered the heat stroke which resulted in his death," Dallaire wrote.
Three fans were found by authorities in the house -- none were in the living room where the baby was placed.
The boy's mother, Ella Jeffers, was not at home when the death occurred. She had been at work in Bloomington since 7:30 a.m., John Jeffers told police.
Jeffers was also charged with possession of marijuana after paraphernalia, marijuana buds and residue were found in two different locations in the house.
Jeffers told police that he and his wife both smoke marijuana, but had not done so in the three days prior to the baby's death, according to court documents.
The mother has not been charged.