An Ohio man has been charged with reckless homicide after prosecutors say the suspect weighing up to 400lbs caused the death of his 11-year-old step-grandson by pinning him down during an argument.
Donald Martin Jr, 58, was arrested on Friday in rural Brown County after his wife called 911 at 6.40pm to report that her grandson, Dylan Davis, was not breathing.
The woman told an emergency call center dispatcher that Dylan came home and ‘threw a fit’, prompting Donald Martin Jr to restrain him.
Donald Martin Jr (left), 58, has been charged in the asphyxiation death of his 11-year-old step-grandson, Dylan Davis (right), whom the 400-pound man allegedly pinned down for several minutes during an argument
‘My husband was holding him down, he got sick and then he just passed out. I don’t know,’ the woman said on the call obtained by WLWT.
Investigators with the Brown County Sheriff’s Office say Martin weighs between 360-400lbs, while Dylan tipped the scales at just 90lbs.
Deputies who responded to the family’s home on Minnick Road found the 11-year-old to be unresponsive. He was rushed to Mt Orab Mercy, where he was pronounced dead.
Sheriff Gordon Ellis told WLWT it appears Dylan died as a result of ‘positional asphyxiation or compression.’
Prosecutors said Martin kept the child pinned down for several minutes.
The child’s biological father, Sam Davis, told the station Dylan was autistic. As he got older, he became prone to angry outbursts.
Father speaks: Sam Davis (pictured above with son Dylan) said the 11-year-old was autistic and was having trouble controlling his anger, but was a ‘great kid’
Still, the elder Davis said Friday’s deadly altercation came as a shock to him because his son was on good terms with his step-grandfather.
Sam Davis said that despite his struggles, Dylan was a ‘great kid’ who loved the outdoors.
‘I feel sad. I feel angry. I feel confused,’ the bereaved parent told the news channel. ‘I wish it never would have happened.’
On Saturday, a judge set Donald Martin’s bond at $100,000, reported Fox19.