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AKRON, Ohio (WOIO/Gray News) – An Ohio man is charged in connection with the death of a 12-year-old boy and is accused of forcing him into ice baths.
The Summit County Medical Examiner identified the 12-year-old victim as Jadako Taylor.
Police said officers responded for a call of a cardiac arrest in the 100 block of S. Balch St. around 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
According to the criminal complaint from the Akron Municipal Court, 23-year-old Anthony McCants forced Jadako into two ice baths for 45 minutes prior to his death.
In between the ice baths, McCants forced Jadako to do pushups and other physical activity, according to the complaint.
The complaint said Jadako then vomited and seized.
EMS immediately transported him to Akron Children’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
At the time of his death, Jadako’s body temperature was just 74 degrees. Hypothermia occurs when the body temperature drops below 95 degrees.
McCants was arraigned in Akron Municipal Court Monday morning. He pleaded not guilty to felony child endangering and the judge set bond at $500,000.
A trial date has yet to be set.
It’s unclear what the relationship between McCants and the boy was, but police said McCants is “known to the family.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490 or 330-375-2Tip.
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