Niles man accused of killing 18-month-old girl

NILES – A 27-year-old Niles man has been charged with the murder of an 18-month-old girl.

Jamie Champlin, of 173 Royal Mall Drive in the Royal Mall Apartments, appeared today before municipal Judge Thomas W. Townley.

Champlin is being held in city jail in lieu of a $750,000 cash or surety bond and faces an Oct. 3 preliminary hearing.

Champlin is accused in the death of Destiny Nicole Seybert, the daughter of his girlfriend, Jennifer Kuhn, Police Chief Bruce Simeone said today.

Simeone said police were notified of the death Sept. 21, the day after she died, by the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Gary Gunther, an investigator with the Summit County Medical Examiner, said Destiny was initially taken to Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital on Sept. 18 and transferred to Akron Children’s Hospital Sept. 20. She died the same day.

Gunther said the death has not been ruled a homicide. The medical examiner must first receive medical records and the results of testing before issuing a formal ruling.

Normally, medical facilities contact police authorities is cases of questionable injuries or deaths.

Simeone said he doesn’t know why his department wasn’t notified by TMH. A hospital spokesman couldn’t be reached to comment.

Neither Simeone nor Gunther would described any injuries the girl suffered. The chief would only say that girl had “serious problems.”

He added that “it wasn’t any one thing” that caused the death.

The girl’s mother could not be reached to comment and didn’t return a message left for her at her apartment.

A stroller could be seen on the porch of her apartment containing a small set of sunglasses.

Champlin was taken into custody about 5:30 p.m. Thursday at his apartment. A coffee table was collected as evidence.