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Baby Aiden's death ruled accidental; police called to watch home after threats
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
No charges will be filed against the mother of Aiden Grim after the Mahoning County Coroner’s office ruled the death of the 3-day-old baby in his Valerie Drive home was accidental.
The baby died after being bitten by one of the family’s five dogs.
Detective Sgt. David Sweeney, lead investigator on the case, said Aiden’s mother, Kristy Grim, would not be charged. Sweeney said there is no evidence she intentionally tried to harm her child.
Dr. Joseph Ohr, the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy on Aiden, said the baby died from four puncture wounds on the skull when a dog in the home tried to pick up the baby out of a clothes basket that was on the floor next to a couch where his mother was sleeping.
“It seems very clear from the injuries to the baby that the dog was trying to pick the baby up from the laundry basket,” Dr. Ohr said.
The dog is at the Mahoning County Dog Pound. He was taken there after police and paramedics were called about 5:45 a.m. Sunday to the South Side home and found the baby dead. Sweeney said the dog’s fate has not been determined.
Kristy Grim said she had nothing to say Tuesday, except that she was not doing well.
Patricia Grim, Aiden’s grandmother and Kristy’s mother, said the family is grateful no charges will be filed. She said they were informed by the coroner’s office Monday evening her grandson’s death would be ruled accidental.
She also thanked the staff from the coroner’s office, police and ambulance workers for their help and treatment.
She said the family has been fielding threats and had to call police Monday to watch their home.
“There are so many people against us who want us to go jail because of this,” Patricia Grim said.
Dr. Ohr said he was upset at the storm of criticism Kristy Grim and her family have received on social media for how Aiden died. He said she is a young, first-time mother who is struggling financially who did not want to harm her child.
“It’s shameful and embarrassing,” Dr. Ohr said of the criticism.
Dr. Ohr stressed that the baby was not mauled by the dog, and the only place the baby was bitten was on the skull.
Dr. Ohr said Aiden’s death came within minutes. He said the wounds caused a large amount of bleeding under the skull and also an injury to the baby’s brain. The fact the baby was so young and his skull was so fragile at such a young age also contributed to the baby’s death.
Dr. Ohr also said the dog appeared to be friendly and not overly aggressive. He said witnesses said the dog was “mouthy,” or tried to get attention by placing different objects in his mouth and bring them to people.
He visited the dog in the pound and said the dog allowed him to approach and pet the animal. Witnesses also said the dog is a friendly dog and does not have a history of being aggressive.
Kristy Grim said Monday she had fallen asleep on the couch and put Aiden in the clothes basket next to her and was awakened when Aiden started screaming. She did not have a crib or bassinet, Grim said.