A 6-month-old baby boy, born December 31, 2022, died on or around July 18, 2023, in Vinton County, Ohio. On Tuesday night, the child's mother, 20-year-old Kasley Hoover, went to a neighbor's house around 11:30 p.m. to call 911 because the baby was struggling to breathe. Deputies and EMS responded to the home on Bray Hollow Road in McArthur and performed CPR, but the child was later pronounced dead at a hospital in Hocking County. Hoover and her boyfriend, 27-year-old Phillip Johnson, were both arrested the following day. Johnson was charged with reckless homicide and endangering children, while Hoover was charged with endangering children. The prosecuting attorney stated evidence suggested this was not a one-time incident, noting the child exhibited bruising at different stages indicating he had been abused in the recent past. The autopsy was pending at the time of reporting, and more severe charges were anticipated.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The WSAZ article quotes the prosecuting attorney as saying: "the child involved exhibited bruising which seems to indicate different stages where he'd been abused in the recent past" and "They can tell from the discoloration of the bruising and some of the other injuries involved." While no specific mechanism of injury (e.g., punching, slapping) is named, the presence of multi-stage bruising and other injuries is consistent with inflicted physical injury to the child.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The WSAZ article states: "The mother of the boy, Kasley Hoover, and Hoover's boyfriend, Phillip Johnson, have both been arrested." Hoover, identified as the biological mother, is charged with endangering children in connection with the child's death. The WOWK article confirms Hoover was arrested and faces endangering children charges.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
The WSAZ article explicitly identifies Phillip Johnson as "Hoover's boyfriend" and states he was arrested and charged with reckless homicide and endangering children in connection with the baby's death. The WOWK article similarly states Johnson was arrested and charged.
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
All three sources confirm that both Kasley Hoover and Phillip Johnson were arrested and charged. The WSAZ article states: "Kasley Hoover, and Hoover's boyfriend, Phillip Johnson, have both been arrested." According to the criminal complaints, Johnson is charged with reckless homicide and endangering children, and Hoover is charged with endangering children.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The Vinton Jackson Courier article reports a notable procedural circumstance: the prosecuting attorney, James Payne, "was recently appointed as Vinton County Court of Common Pleas Judge. Until Payne begins his service as judge July 31, he remains as prosecutor. Once Payne ascends to the bench as judge, he will not preside over any cases that he handled as prosecutor." Additionally, the prosecutor indicated the charges were preliminary and would become more severe at the grand jury stage: "Once it gets to the grand jury stage, we anticipate that there's going to be more severe charges added, certainly with the gentleman. I anticipate that the mother of the child will also have some other charges added too." The WSAZ article also notes more charges could be filed, and the prosecutor emphasized this was "not a one-time incident" based on evidence of bruising at different stages.
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