A different portrayal of events was set up by defense attorneys and prosecuting attorneys in the second day of the trial of Brent Houdeshell, a 29-year-old Arlington man accused of killing a 2-year-old child.
Colleen Limerick, assistant prosecutor in Hancock County, said the case was child murder. She said Houdeshell and the child’s mother, Alysha Young, argued March 31, the night of the alleged murder, about who would spend the night with Breydon Ferrell, 2, and their baby, 2 months at the time.
Houdeshell eventually was left with the children. Houdeshell called 911 at around 8 p.m. to report a child had fallen out of his crib When police discovered the child and an autopsy was conducted, Limerick said Breydon’s injuries were extensive: a severe skull fracture, brain injury, two liver laceration, and a spiral fracture in his left leg. The cause of death was eventually determined to be a brain injury, which Limerick said Houdeshell caused.
“This is not a case of an accidental fall from a crib. This is a case of child murder,” Limerick told jurors.
Adam Nemann, Houdeshell’s defense lawyer, said Houdeshell could not have committed the murder of a child he loved.
“The prosecution is asking you to believe a loving, caring father to this boy turned into an abusive killer,” Nemann said.
Nemann said the defense believed Ferrell became ill, vomited, and fell out of his crib. Houdeshell then found the child and attempted to clean him up before putting him back into his bed.
Nemann added the injuries on the child’s chest were due to CPR from a Findlay Police officer and other injuries were due to further attempts by medics to save him.