Ohio couple charged in death of 18-month-old girl

MANCHESTER, Ohio (AP) — Police say a man and woman have been arrested on child endangering charges after their 18-month-old daughter died when she apparently was left overnight in an overheated room at the family’s southern Ohio home.

Manchester police Chief Jeff Bowling said today that 26-year-old Jesika Case and 26-year-old Jeremy Cox were in the Adams County jail. It could not be determined whether they have an attorney.

The cause of death hadn’t been determined, but Bowling says investigators suspect the girl died from extreme heat in the small room where the temperature reached an estimated 130 degrees. Bowling says there were space heaters in the house.

Bowling says the child was put to bed late Tuesday night and found unresponsive about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. She was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.