Tragedy struck in Ohio when an infant girl lost her life after being allegedly abducted by a man who crashed his car into a house. The incident unfolded in North Baltimore, Ohio, when Johnathon J. Baker, 23, reportedly took his girlfriend’s 7-month-old child during a dispute. The child’s mother immediately called 911, prompting law enforcement to issue a be-on-the-lookout (BOLO) notice. The situation escalated when Baker, armed with a firearm, led police on a high-speed chase that ended in a devastating crash in Tiffin, Ohio.
Johnathon J. Baker, 23, is accused of abducting his girlfriend’s 7-month-old child during a dispute in North Baltimore, Ohio. The child’s mother contacted the authorities, who promptly issued a BOLO notice to law enforcement agencies in the area. According to the Tiffin Police Department, Baker had expressed homicidal and suicidal thoughts and allegedly made a statement to the child’s mother claiming he had killed the baby. The BOLO also mentioned that Baker was armed with a firearm.
An off-duty officer spotted Baker’s yellow Camaro entering the City of Tiffin and began following the vehicle while providing updates on its location. Deputies from the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Tiffin Police Department attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Baker evaded them. The pursuit ended tragically when Baker crashed into a residence on Sandusky Street in Tiffin, causing significant damage to the house.
Law enforcement officers and deputies swiftly responded to the scene, breaking through the car’s back window to rescue the infant. Witnesses described a chaotic scene with multiple officers drawing their guns and emergency medical services arriving promptly to attend to the injured child. Despite their efforts, the baby girl succumbed to her injuries. Baker, critically injured in the crash, was transported to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Toledo.
Tiffin Police Chief David Pauly expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased child, assuring them that a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. Sheriff Frederick Stevens of the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office also extended his sympathies to the family and praised the efforts of the deputies, officers, and EMS personnel involved in the rescue attempt.
While official charges have not yet been filed, the Tiffin Police Department is treating the infant’s death as a homicide. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities seeking assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Search warrants, interviews, and other investigative steps will be taken to gather evidence. The Tiffin Police Department is collaborating with the North Baltimore Police, the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, and the Seneca and Wood County Prosecutors in this tragic case.