CELINA — Emotional and fighting back tears, Cory Eischen spoke softly as he told the judge he understood prosecutors were seeking the death penalty against him in the death of a 4-year-old child.
Eischen, 39, pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder, two counts of murder, involuntary manslaughter, two counts of felonious assault, two counts of endangering children and domestic violence. All charges are felonies.
The murder and manslaughter charges are a lesser option for a jury to consider at trial if jurors find the crime did not meet the elements of aggravated murder. None of the charges hinder prosecutors from seeking and obtaining the death penalty.
Prosecutor Matt Fox requested a $5 million bond which Judge Jeffrey Ingraham approved. Eischen waived his right to a speedy trial to give his attorneys more time to prepare his defense.
Eischen is charged in the Sept. 25 death of Jaxxen Baker inside a home at 5098 Rauh Road outside of Fort Recovery. Deputies were called to the home after a woman picked up another child and saw Baker unresponsive. Eischen was baby-sitting Baker while the child’s mother was at work.
The child had numerous injuries on his body from blunt-force trauma. Deputies and Children Services were called to the home a month earlier because of injuries to the child, as well.
Eischen wore casual clothes during the hearing but remained handcuffed and his legs chained. He spent most of the hearing looking down at the table in front of him only looking up when he judge addressed him. He fought back tears, at times, and was emotional.
The judge scheduled a pretrial hearing for Nov. 28. Eischen’s legal team told the judge they expect to file numerous motions including asking the court for money to hire expert witnesses including a psychologist.
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