WARREN Jury convicts man in death of daughter

Ziegler is expected to be sentenced in about a month.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A man convicted of killing his 7-month-old daughter could face a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
A jury deliberated a little more than two hours before finding Ranell Ziegler guilty of murder.
The jury met for about an hour Friday before being sent home for the weekend. They returned Monday and deliberated for a little more than an hour before reaching the verdict.
A background investigation will be conducted by the county adult probation department before Ziegler is sentenced. Sentencing will take place in about a month, court officials said.
Ziegler could receive a sentence of 15 years to life in prison, said Thomas Wrenn, an assistant Trumbull County prosecutor.
"I'm very, very pleased with this verdict," Wrenn said.
Atty. Jeff Goodman, who represents Ziegler, said, "We haven't had much time to discuss anything but I'm sure he will want to appeal."
What happened
Ziegler, 22, of Commerce Street, was accused of causing the death of his daughter A'lena Ziegler on Oct. 3, 2002.
Warren police said the child may have been 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, police said.
The child suffered head injuries and also had a broken leg, officials said.
Police said Ziegler would often baby-sit while the child's mother, Ashley Croff, 19, was working. Croff lived at the Roberts Avenue address with her mother, police said.
Ziegler's trial started Sept. 15 in the courtroom of Judge John Stuard of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
Ziegler did not testify during the trial.
sinkovich@vindy.com