hhiipp
07-22-2009, 09:59 AM
Rodent case will go to grand jury (video) | chillicothegazette.com | Chillicothe Gazette (http://www.chillicothegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090722/NEWS01/907220302)
IDAHO - Pike County Prosecutor Rob Junk will be pursuing indictments against three people suspected of child endangerment in connection with rodent bites covering a 6-week-old infant in their care.
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript>OAS_AD('ArticleFlex_1');</SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=javascript1.1 src="http://gannett.gcion.com/addyn/3.0/5111.1/133600/0/0/ADTECH;alias=oh-chillicothe.chillicothegazette.centralohio.com/news/article.htm_ArticleFlex_1;cookie=info;loc=100;target=_blank;grp=123831;misc=1248274635750"></SCRIPT>
Junk said if his office is able to gather all the information it needs in time, he will be presenting the case against Todd C. Trent, 18, Joseph Gunter, 33, and Tina Gunter, 29, to a grand jury as early as Thursday.
All three pleaded not guilty to two counts each of endangering children Tuesday in front of Pike County Court Judge Cassandra Bolt-Meredith. One count is a second-degree felony, while the other is a third-degree felony.
Bond was set at $210,000, with a cash-only provision for each of the three accused.
All three invididuals were living together at the home located at 2209 Red Bridge Road, in western Pike County.
The judge also stated that if they do post bond, they are to have no contact with the victim or anyone younger than 18 and they are to comply with a safety plan created by the Pike County Children's Board.
Originally, Trent also was going to be charged with tampering with evidence and obstructing justice. Junk dropped the charges for the present time, intending instead to present those charges to a grand jury.
The saga began when the sheriff's office received an anonymous tip about the child and went to the home to investigate the welfare of the child.
Junk said when the deputy arrived at the home, he found the 6-week-old girl in shock and devoid of all her color.
"He observed wounds on the girl that appeared to have been rodent bites," he said.
The child was taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, where doctors said the injuries were "consistent with rodent bites" and appeared to have occurred during a "lengthy period of time," Pike County Sheriff Rich Henderson said.
Henderson also said the worst bites were on the infant's left foot and back, but bites were found all over the child's body. Two of the girl's toes had to be removed.
"I have never seen anything like this before," Junk said.
The condition of the home in which the child was found was described by Junk as "not good."
Standing by her brother, Trent, during the course of the investigation at the scene Monday, Malissa Reisinger defended her brother's innocence.
"They (authorities) were supposed to just talk to him, and the next thing we know, he is in jail," she said.
Reisinger said she talked with Trent Monday and he said he was sad about the allegations against him.
"This is taking a toll on my whole family," she said.
Trent is not the biological father of the child.
A pre-trial hearing has been set for 1 p.m. July 29 for all three suspects.
As of Tuesday evening, no charges had been filed against the child's mother.
IDAHO - Pike County Prosecutor Rob Junk will be pursuing indictments against three people suspected of child endangerment in connection with rodent bites covering a 6-week-old infant in their care.
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript>OAS_AD('ArticleFlex_1');</SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=javascript1.1 src="http://gannett.gcion.com/addyn/3.0/5111.1/133600/0/0/ADTECH;alias=oh-chillicothe.chillicothegazette.centralohio.com/news/article.htm_ArticleFlex_1;cookie=info;loc=100;target=_blank;grp=123831;misc=1248274635750"></SCRIPT>
Junk said if his office is able to gather all the information it needs in time, he will be presenting the case against Todd C. Trent, 18, Joseph Gunter, 33, and Tina Gunter, 29, to a grand jury as early as Thursday.
All three pleaded not guilty to two counts each of endangering children Tuesday in front of Pike County Court Judge Cassandra Bolt-Meredith. One count is a second-degree felony, while the other is a third-degree felony.
Bond was set at $210,000, with a cash-only provision for each of the three accused.
All three invididuals were living together at the home located at 2209 Red Bridge Road, in western Pike County.
The judge also stated that if they do post bond, they are to have no contact with the victim or anyone younger than 18 and they are to comply with a safety plan created by the Pike County Children's Board.
Originally, Trent also was going to be charged with tampering with evidence and obstructing justice. Junk dropped the charges for the present time, intending instead to present those charges to a grand jury.
The saga began when the sheriff's office received an anonymous tip about the child and went to the home to investigate the welfare of the child.
Junk said when the deputy arrived at the home, he found the 6-week-old girl in shock and devoid of all her color.
"He observed wounds on the girl that appeared to have been rodent bites," he said.
The child was taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, where doctors said the injuries were "consistent with rodent bites" and appeared to have occurred during a "lengthy period of time," Pike County Sheriff Rich Henderson said.
Henderson also said the worst bites were on the infant's left foot and back, but bites were found all over the child's body. Two of the girl's toes had to be removed.
"I have never seen anything like this before," Junk said.
The condition of the home in which the child was found was described by Junk as "not good."
Standing by her brother, Trent, during the course of the investigation at the scene Monday, Malissa Reisinger defended her brother's innocence.
"They (authorities) were supposed to just talk to him, and the next thing we know, he is in jail," she said.
Reisinger said she talked with Trent Monday and he said he was sad about the allegations against him.
"This is taking a toll on my whole family," she said.
Trent is not the biological father of the child.
A pre-trial hearing has been set for 1 p.m. July 29 for all three suspects.
As of Tuesday evening, no charges had been filed against the child's mother.