(video post) The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled that Patrick Nicholas Lerch, a 17-month-old baby from Akron, died as a result of being poisoned by meth lab chemicals. The Medical Examiner also noted that the baby’s body showed signs of both neglect and abuse.
February 13, 2012
On February 13, 2012, Kimberly Clark, who is married to a man that is related to Heather Lerch, says she contacted the Department of Children’s Services, to inform them that Lerch was moving in to a drug house with her son, 17-month-old Patrick Lerch. According to a woman, who knew Lerch during the time she lived at Harvest House – a homeless shelter for parents and children – complaints that Lerch had acted abusively towards the baby while at the shelter, had also been reported to the agency. The agency says they investigated Clark’s February 13th complaint, but could find no reason to remove the baby from his mother’s care.
February 26, 2012
Shortly before 11 a.m. on February 26, 2012, a man living inside the Patrick Lerch’s former home made a call to 911. The dispatcher heard a woman crying in the background. The man told the dispatcher, “A little baby boy is not breathing. He stopped breathing. He went to sleep, and now we can’t get him to wake up. He won’t breathe or nothing”. Five minutes later, police and paramedics arrived at the house on Saint Leger Avenue, and found the body of Patrick Lerch lying in his crib. At 11:17 p.m., Akron Children’s Hospital officially pronounced that the toddler was dead.
March 26, 2012
Akron police arrested four adults, who shared the former home of Patrick Lerch.
The baby’s mother, Heather Lerch, 20, and Ronald Legg, 22, were charged with murder and felony child endangerment. Ronald Legg received additional charges for violating the terms of his probation for theft and receiving stolen property. His police record includes 10 arrests.
Two other men, Randy Legg, 19, who is Heather Lerch’s boyfriend and the brother of Ronald Legg, and Allen Ray Kostra, 24, were also charged with manslaughter. Kostra has also been charged with a contempt of court in a theft case. His police record includes 6 prior arrests by Akron police.
Meth lab discovery
According to a report by the Akron police, “Responding officers recovered an active meth lab in the basement of the house on St. Leger Avenue. Patrick Lerch died of Methamphetamine Intoxication due to the inhalation of chemicals during his abuse and neglect.”
References:
“Akron: Police Department Incident Press Release: Archives.” The Official City of Akron Web Site. City of Akron Police Department, 23 Mar. 2012. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://ci.akron.oh.us/safety/DisplayPoliceArc.asp>.
Achladis, Ted. “Akron Mom Charged in Meth Intoxication Death Of A Child.” FOX8.com Cleveland News & Weather from WJW Television FOX 8. 23 Mar. 2012. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://fox8.com/2012/03/23/akron-mother-charged-in-death-of-child/>.
Meyer, Ed. “Authorities Calling Death of 17-month-old Toddler ‘suspected Homicide’” Ohio.com. Akron Beacon Journal Online, 28 Feb. 2012. Web. 28 Mar. 2012.
<http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/authorities-calling-death-of-17-month-old-toddler-suspected-homicide-1.267445>.
Meyer, Ed. “Grand Jury to Review Evidence in Child’s Death.” Ohio.com. Akron Beacon Journal Online, 27 Mar. 2012. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.ohio.com/news/local/grand-jury-to-review-evidence-in-child-s-death-1.285920>.
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erik cowell
First let me say I am a recovering meth head then let me say wtf I know what this addiction can do to a person. I got out of it before my first born but dam how can you sit and wach a little one like thjat get so sick from that crap he dies. After all it is as usual a real long story but it was seeing little ones living that life style that got me out. If knowing the life is leading is causing kids to end up with all the pains and hurts you have cuz let’s face it drugs r widely done to escape ur own realality then what is. I would say they deserve to die to. But the worse thing that could happen is dealing with the pain of what they did whenn they have been sober enough to realize it. Thank god it did not take my childs life to wake me up. Please send all my sympathy to those who loved him and will never get to c him grow into a fine young man and when they sober up enough tell his parents they did not get all they deserve they owe life and themselfs a whole lot more then they can ever give but I still pray they give it their best shot.
julie
previous reports was made to child enforcment they are professionals they allowed this to happen to this baby ! there suppose to be professionals ! they should have got that baby away from those ppl ! the lady that delt with the case sould loose her licinse and be locked up to !