Celina man charged with murder in death of 11-month-old stepson

CELINA - A grand jury indicted a Celina man last week for murder in the death of his 11-month-old stepson last month.

The grand jury issued the nine-count indictment against Jason C. Thomas, 25, on Friday. Thomas' stepson, Kole Mathew Atkins, died Jan. 16 at Children's Medical Center in Dayton.

The charges against Thomas include murder by felonious assault, felonious assault, murder by child endangerment, two counts of endangering children, three counts of involuntary manslaughter, and reckless homicide, according to Mercer County Common Pleas Court records.

Celina Police Chief David Slusser at the time of the incident said the injuries that led to Atkins' death occurred on Jan. 14. Slusser said officers responded with emergency personnel to 119 Garmin Ave. on report that a child was injured and had stopped breathing.

Thomas was reportedly home alone with the boy at their home when the injuries took place.

Slusser previously said an autopsy at the Montgomery County Coroner's Office found severe trauma to the baby's head, body and extremities that were inconsistent with any type of accident.

Thomas is being held in the Mercer County Jail on a $1 million bond.