Man, 27, charged in death of child

County records its second death of a toddler this year resulting in charges.

By TIM YOVICH

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

NILES — A 27-year-old Niles man has been charged with the murder of a 14-month-old girl.

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

Champlin is being held in the Trumbull County Jail in lieu of a $750,000 cash or surety bond and faces a preliminary hearing Wednesday.

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

Simeone said that his department was 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 medical examiner’s office, said Destiny was initially taken to Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital on Sept. 18 and was transferred to Akron Children’s Hospital on 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 in cases of questionable injuries or deaths.

Simeone said he doesn’t know why his department wasn’t notified by TMH. The hospital did not return a message left at the administrative offices for comment.

No details released

Neither Simeone nor Gunther would describe any injuries that may have caused the death. The chief would only say the 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. Champlin is being “semi-cooperative” with police, Simeone said.

Destiny’s death is the second of a toddler in Trumbull County this year that has resulted in criminal charges.

Two-year-old Fred Miller of Warren died March 1 of a beating.

Randall M. Thomas, of 1306 Fifth St., Apt. 5, has been charged with aggravated murder and faces a Jan. 15 trial in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

Thomas was staying at the apartment with his stepbrother, Zachery Thomas, and his brother’s girlfriend, Deborah Miller, when the boy was found injured.

Police were called Feb. 28 by paramedics who were summoned to the apartment and noticed the boy’s injuries.

Greg Hicks, Warren law director, had said the boy’s mother was at work and her boyfriend was picking her up when an ambulance was called to the apartment.

Hicks had said Randall Thomas was left alone with the boy, who suffered head injuries.

Randall Thomas is also being held with bond set at $750,000.

yovich@vindy.com