Eischen pleads guilty in death of young child

CELINA - A Mercer County man on Wednesday pleaded guilty to one count of murder, an unclassified felony, for the death of a 4-year-old boy in September.

Cory William Eischen, 40, of Washington Township had been facing a possible death penalty if convicted in a jury trial, which had been scheduled to begin Oct. 2. By agreeing to the plea deal, he avoided the jury trial.

Eischen also entered guilty pleas to second-degree felony child endangering and to third-degree felony domestic violence in exchange for the dropping of six charges, including aggravated murder; another count of an unspecified degree of murder; involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony; two counts of felonious assault, second-degree felonies; and another count of endangering children, second-degree felony, according to court records. He faces 15 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on Sept. 5 in Mercer County Common Pleas Court.

Eischen appeared before visiting judge Randall Basinger of Putnam County. The hearing had been scheduled for the judge to rule on a motion to suppress from defense attorneys Kirk McVay and Richard Chamberlain. However, the negotiated plea agreement was reached between the defense team and Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Fox.

Fox at Wednesday's hearing read a statement of facts agreed to by the defense team. The statement listed the events of Sept. 25, at Eischen's residence at 5098 Rauh Road. Items included a call to the Mercer County Sheriff's Office from a man whose girlfriend had just picked up her child from the residence. The girlfriend had been concerned about another child at that address.

Several more calls had been received by the sheriff's office, including one from Eischen's father, who reportedly had said 4-year-old Jaxxon Baker was "not breathing and was cold to the touch." The child reportedly had not responded to CPR, which had been given after the call was made and had been continued by paramedics when they had arrived at the address.

The child then was taken to Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater, where he was pronounced dead. A preliminary examination at the hospital had found Baker had much bruising over his back, face and abdomen area as well as abrasions and lacerations. The official cause of death was listed as homicide due to multiple blunt-force traumas.

A deputy had returned to Eischen's residence that afternoon to talk to him. Eischen reportedly was emotional and produced a knife, held it to his throat and threatened suicide at the time. A Taser was used to bring Eischen under control. He then was taken to Community Hospital for evaluation and later transported to the Mercer County jail.

At Wednesday's hearing, Eischen, wearing a dark suit with an open-collar blue shirt, was seated between his attorneys. He responded to Basinger's questions in an audible but quiet voice, saying, "yes, your honor" and "no, your honor." His voice was heard to crack on occasion.

Eischen will remain in jail until his Sept. 5 sentencing.