Authorities probing death of Salem baby

By D.A. WILKINSON

wilkinson@vindy.com

SALEM

The death of a 7-month-old boy is being treated as suspicious by authorities who routinely investigate all deaths of children.

Columbiana County Assistant Prosecutor Timothy McNicol, who investigates and prosecutes crimes against children, said Friday that his investigation was just getting started.

McNicol said that the death of a child is always treated as being suspicious.

Derek A. Dennison died at Salem Community Hospital’s emergency room about 12:38 a.m. Friday.

His mother, Miranda Todd, 22, of North Ellsworth Avenue, had taken her child there.

Salem Police Chief Robert Floor said the boy was “in an unresponsive state.”

Efforts to revive the boy failed, and he was pronounced dead.

“It is currently undetermined if a criminal offense has occurred,” Floor said.

There are a number of “people of interest whom we are interviewing to gather all information about events leading to this unfortunate death,” he said. There are no suspects, he said.

Fran Rudibaugh, an investigator for the county coroner’s office, said the death is “under investigation and there is no further information at this time.”

Police said Todd has been studying at the ITT Technical Institute and has no criminal record.

Officials had no information on the boy’s father.

Members of the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Department and Salem police were initially confused over who had jurisdiction in the case since the mother gave them an address outside the city. She uses that as a permanent address although she has been residing in Salem.