Babysitting boyfriend accused of murdering 20-month-old boy now going to trial (Bloomington, Indiana)

Babysitting boyfriend FRANKLIN BYERS III is finally going to trial for the 2007 death of his girlfriend's 20-month-old son.

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/article_1565b066-7870-11de-9fd4-001cc4c002e0.html

Trial date set in death of 20-month-old boy
By Edith Brady-Lunny
Posted: Saturday, July 25, 2009 12:00 am

BLOOMINGTON -- A Feb. 8 trial date has been set for a former Bloomington man accused of murdering his girlfriend's 20-month-old son.

Franklin Byers III, 25, now of Decatur, is accused of the October 2, 2007 death of Aaron O'Brien Ishmael. The toddler died at a Peoria hospital where he was transferred after Bloomington rescue crews responded the previous day to a call of an injured child on Oakbrook Court.

Byers has pleaded innocent to the murder charges.

Defense lawyer Steve Skelton said in court Friday that he is waiting on a report from a consulting physician who is expected to review the child's medical records. The reports may not be completed until September, he said.

Byers was allowed to continue his release on $75,000 bond after Judge Charles Reynard heard a court services report that Byers is attending a community college and following the terms of his release.

A prosecutor's statement indicates Byers told police the child's injuries were caused by a fall while Byers was watching the boy. An autopsy report listed blunt force trauma to the head as the cause of the child' death.

An Oct. 9 hearing is set to review the case.