Tragic Ohio Dad Sentenced to Life for Abducting and Murdering Toddler Daughter

Ohio – A man from North Baltimore, Jonathan Baker, received a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the abduction and murder of his two-year-old daughter, Emery. The horrific incident took place after Baker kidnapped his daughter, shot her twice in the head, and led police on a chase.

Baker, 24, was also sentenced to an additional 16.5 years for the kidnapping charge and three years for a firearms specification. Prior to his sentencing, Baker appealed for mercy, attributing his actions to a lack of spirituality on that fateful day.

During the court proceedings, the judge, Damon Alt, highlighted Baker’s heinous crime, emphasizing that he had multiple opportunities throughout the day to prevent the tragedy from occurring. The victim’s mother, in a statement read in court, expressed the profound loss she felt after Baker took away her daughter’s life.

The baby’s mother fondly remembered Emery as a cheerful baby who enjoyed simple pleasures like tummy time and playing in her bouncy seat. Baker acknowledged his ex-girlfriend’s belief in the afterlife, possibly seeking solace in the idea of an existence beyond this world.

Before the fatal events unfolded, Baker engaged in a high-speed chase with the police following a report of the kidnapping. Dashcam and bodycam footage revealed the tragic moments leading up to the collision that resulted in Emery’s death inside Baker’s yellow Camaro.

Authorities were alerted about the abduction by Wood County deputies, leading to a pursuit involving Tiffin Police Department officers. The chase culminated in Baker crashing his car into a house, fatally injuring his daughter in the process.

Efforts to save the infant at the scene were unsuccessful, and she was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Emergency responders faced challenges in extracting Baker from his vehicle, reflecting the gravity of the situation.

Acknowledging Baker’s time already spent in jail, he will be housed at the Lorain Correctional Institution. The sentencing serves as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of Baker’s actions, leaving a community in shock and mourning over the loss of young Emery.