Akron police investigating 'suspicious' death of 17-month-old boy
Toddler found unresponsive in crib
Posted: 02/27/2012
AKRON, Ohio - The Summit County Medical Examiner said the circumstances surrounding the death of a 17-month-old boy are suspicious.
Patrick Nicholas Lerch was found unresponsive in his crib Sunday evening at a home on St. Leger Avenue in the Goodyear Heights neighborhood.
The medical examiner said there were possible signs that the toddler had been abused.
The toddler was taken to Akron Children's Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:17 p.m. on Feb. 26.
An autopsy took place on Monday, but the results have not been released by the medical examiner.
Lt. Rick Edwards told NewsChannel5 that a meth lab was also found inside the home. Police said the baby's mother, Heather Lerch, was arrested on multiple felony charges related to the meth lab, including child endangering and illegal assembly of chemicals.
Three men, Ronald Legg, 22, Randy Legg, 19, and Allen Kostra, 24, were arrested on the same charges.
No one has been charged in connection with the death of the toddler, police said.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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