Dad pleads guilty to felonious assault, infant daughter still on life support five months later (Kettering, Ohio)

Dad MARCUS MERRICK was "caring" for the baby when he assaulted her. Five months later, she remains on life support.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/daytoncourts/entries/2011/10/20/shaken_babys_father_is_convict.html

Shaken baby’s father is convicted of felony charges
By Lou Grieco | Thursday, October 20, 2011, 04:18 PM

DAYTON — A Kettering man accused of shaking his 3½- month-old daughter, who remains on life support five months later, pleaded no contest to all indicted counts Thursday.

Marcus Merrick, 29, was convicted of two counts of felonious assault and two counts of endangering children. Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Frances E. McGee set sentencing for Nov. 8.

Prosecutors said in court that, should Joani Marie Merrick die, they would pursue murder charges against her father.

Marcus Merrick was arrested May 13, five days after Joani Marie Merrick was admitted to Children’s Medical Center.

The infant’s mother was asleep in their apartment, 1235 Imperial Blvd., the morning of May 8, and Marcus Merrick was caring for the child, Kettering police Officer Michael Burke said in May. The mother called 911 shortly after 9 a.m. to say the girl was having difficulty breathing.

Police and medics responded and took Joani Merrick to the hospital, where doctors found evidence of brain trauma, according to police reports. Marcus Merric was arrested based on medical findings and police interviews with him, Burke said.

“He admitted to our detectives that his actions caused the injury,” Burke said. “That’s inexcusable. It’s pretty maddening.”