Father Arrested for Murder After Four-Month-Old Child Found Unresponsive in Fostoria

FOSTORIA, Ohio — A 24-year-old man from Fostoria has been arrested and charged with the murder of his four-month-old child after the infant was found unresponsive in their home on Tuesday. The arrest follows the release of a 911 call made by the father, Joseph Bonito, who reported that his baby was not responding.

According to the police, the incident occurred while the child’s mother was at work. Authorities revealed that this was not the first instance of abuse involving the child, with law enforcement officials indicating there were previous signs of mistreatment.

In the 911 call made Tuesday, Bonito, sounding panicked, told the dispatcher: “My baby is not responding. He’s white and I don’t know what’s wrong.” When asked for his address, he added, “I went to take a nap. I went to go get him up and he just wasn’t responding.”

Emergency responders arrived at the Bonito family’s mobile home on North Countyline Street just before noon. Upon arrival, emergency personnel noticed signs of possible injury on the infant, which immediately raised suspicions of abuse.

Chief Gabe Wedge of the Fostoria Police Department confirmed that the emergency medical technicians (EMTs) had observed potential injuries on the child. He stated, “There were some suspected possible injuries at the time that EMS had noticed and pointed out to some of our guys,” leading to further investigation by officers.

During an interview with Bonito, police say the father admitted to shaking the child and possibly squeezing the baby. This led to the charge of murder, with Bonito also facing additional charges of endangering children.

Wood County Children Services, which is not commenting specifically on this case, has urged parents experiencing difficulties in caring for their children to seek help. Brandy Laux, a spokesperson for the agency, emphasized the importance of reaching out to others for support when feeling overwhelmed. “I don’t think anybody sets out to intentionally want to hurt their child, but just when you have a baby constantly crying and out of frustration things sometimes get the best of people. So, it’s important for people to remember to call a family member. Call a friend. Look for the neighbors. See if anybody can watch the baby for 15 minutes while taking a deep breath outside,” she said.

Wood County Children Services operates a 24-hour hotline for parents in need of assistance, offering support for those struggling with the pressures of parenting.

This heartbreaking case has left the community shaken and serves as a grim reminder of the vital role support systems and awareness play in preventing child abuse. As investigations continue, authorities are urging anyone in need of help to seek the resources available to them.