Family forgives man who says he killed son

The prosecutor said he will pursue the death penalty.
OTTAWA, Ohio (AP) -- The family of a man who told authorities he drowned his year-old son in a bathtub doesn't want prosecutors to pursue the death penalty.
Michael Luebrecht, 36, of Fort Jennings, has been charged with aggravated murder in the May death of his son, Joel. Luebrecht told a 911 operator that he drowned his son.
Putnam County Prosecutor Gary Lammers has said he will seek the death penalty in the case, which is scheduled for trial in February.
"We are the victims here," said Amy Luebrecht, the baby's mother and Michael Luebrecht's wife. "He took Joel away from us. We are forgiving him. It's not like the prosecutor has to seek vengeance on behalf of the victim."
Amy Luebrecht's sister, Susan Darby, said Lammers hasn't listened to the family's wishes. "He's really not looking out for the victim's family in this situation. None of us think Mike deserves the death penalty," she said.
Difficult to abide
Lammers said he has met with the family and understood their desires. He said the family's connection with both the suspect and victim makes it difficult to abide by their wishes.
"I don't know if it'd be appropriate to speak to my own personal views about this," Lammers said. "I look at it as my job as an officer of the court and the state. I present the facts, and the tryer of fact can make the determination."
He said he will take into account the family's concerns.
Luebrecht dropped his original plea of innocent by reason of insanity and pleaded innocent last month in Putnam County Common Pleas Court.
Luebrecht's lawyer, William Kluge, said his client's mental health will be a key part of his defense, but it is difficult to prove insanity in court.
Putnam County sheriff's deputies said Luebrecht picked up Joel from a baby sitter in May and brought the child home to a bathroom.
A volunteer firefighter who lives across the street found the boy, still in his clothes, on a bed in their home in Fort Jennings, which is about 60 miles southwest of Toledo.
Kluge said the family unanimously supports dropping the death penalty request. "What they really want is him to get the help he needs," Kluge said.