TRUMBULL COUNTY Deputies arrest 2 after man sentenced

The defendant said he will appeal his conviction.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The mother and grandmother of a murdered infant were led away in handcuffs from Thursday's sentencing of the man convicted of the killing.
Debbie Croff and her daughter, Ashley, were arrested on disorderly conduct charges when they fought with deputies after the sentencing of Ranell Ziegler of Commerce Street, the baby's father.
A jury found Ziegler guilty of murder last month in the death of the 7-month-old child.
Moments after Judge John Stuard of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court sentenced Ziegler to life in prison with parole eligibility after 15 years, Debbie Croff began arguing with Ziegler's relatives in the courtroom.
When Deputy Thomas Stewart asked Croff to leave, she became combative, deputies said. Ashley Croff also began fighting with deputies, officials said.
Both were to appear in Warren Municipal Court today to face the charges.
Debbie Croff became upset during the hearing when Zeigler told the judge he did not intend to hurt his daughter.
Father's comments
"No one feels the remorse, regret and pain I wake up to daily," Ziegler said before sentencing. "Yes, call me careless, inept and incompetent in child care, and I'll agree with you, but in no way did I knowingly intend to cause serious physical harm that could ultimately cause the death of my beautiful daughter."
Ziegler criticized his defense attorney, saying no witnesses were called during his trial and the jury that decided his fate were not his peers.
"The jury was all white with ages from 37 to 65," the 24-year-old Ziegler said. "The way this case was tried, I couldn't have won."
Ziegler said he plans to appeal his conviction.
Authorities say Ziegler killed A'lena Ziegler on Oct. 3, 2002. Warren police said the child may have died after being thrown.
Police said someone called 911 on Oct. 2 to say a baby had been injured at 1280 Roberts Ave. N.W. The child was taken by ambulance to a Warren hospital, then transferred to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, where she died of head injuries, police said.
Police said Ziegler would often baby-sit while the child's mother was working. Croff lived at the Roberts Avenue address with her mother, police said.
sinkovich@vindy.com