Foster dad found guilty of manslaughter in Ohio boy’s death

NEWARK, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio man whose 5-year-old foster son died after sustaining severe head trauma and bruises has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and endangering children.

Kenneth Schulz, 30, of Newark, pleaded guilty Monday in Licking County Common Pleas Court to the charges in Nathaniel Gard’s death. Schulz also was indicted on a murder charge, but that was dropped by prosecutors in exchange for the plea.

The child was hospitalized in June 2018 with injuries that also included detached retinas and retinal hemorrhages and died days later. Court records show Schulz told police he was wrestling with the boy and had used various wrestling moves including body-slamming him.

Schulz’s attorney, Eric Brehm, said today the events that led to Nathaniel’s death have “haunted” Schulz, but moving the case forward is in everyone’s best interest.