Warren charged with murdering boy, 3, to be evaluated at state mental hospital

Staff report

WARREN

Arthur Harper, 44, who is charged with murder, child endangering and felonious assault in the death of his common-law wife’s son, will be taken soon to a state mental hospital for 20 days of evaluation.

Harper is accused of fatally injuring Russell Cottrill, 3, last November at the home on High Street Northeast where he lived with the boy and his mother.

The boy died Nov. 30 of blunt-force injuries to the head and neck with brain and spinal damage, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office.

Harper’s attorney, John Yuhasz, asked Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Peter Kontos to order an evaluation to determine whether Harper is competent to stand trial.

Judge Kontos ordered the evaluation, but Harper was uncooperative with the examiner, so the examiner could not reach a conclusion, said Diane Barber, an assistant Trumbull County prosecutor.

Officials are hoping a 20-day inpatient evaluation at Heartland Behavioral Healthcare in Massillon will provide the court with the information needed, Barber said.

He will be transferred from the Trumbull County jail to Heartland as soon as a bed becomes available at Heartland.