D'ATHAN CHRISTOPHER JONES Jr - 5 Months - Cleveland OH

CLEVELAND, Ohio —
A 5-month-old boy died from child abuse, with rib fractures, bleeding
in the lungs and blunt impact injuries to his head and neck, the
Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's office ruled Friday.


Cleveland police are investigating the Dec. 4 death of D'Athan
Christopher Jones Jr., which the medical examiner ruled a homicide.

A news release said the baby suffered pulmonary hemosiderosis –
bleeding in the lungs which leads to an abnormal accumulation of iron,
causing anemia and lung damage.

His parents, D'Athan Jones Sr., 22, of Cleveland and Shanell Ross, 22, of Lyndhurst, could not be reached for comment.

Cleveland police spokeswoman Jennifer Ciaccia said police were
initially told the infant had died of natural causes – listed as
"probable natural" on their report. Police receive reports on all infant
deaths, she said.

That's what Martrice Reddick, 20, of Maple Heights initially
believed. He was a good friend to the baby's father and witnessed the
baby's dying moments around 5:30 p.m. at Jones' home on Delavan Avenue
in Cleveland, he said. Reddick said Ross was not present.

"I was resting on the couch and got up after D'Athan jumped over the
couch and yelled 'My baby is dying,'" Reddick said. "I got up and we
took the baby over to University Hospital.

"I can't believe that autopsy report. No one put their hands on that
baby. D'Athan adored that baby. He was a good kid, and everybody loved
him."

The baby was buried at Lake View Cemetery.

Ciaccia said the autopsy report has been turned over to the police homicide unit for further investigation.

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/03/police_investigate_death_of_5-.html