Wednesday, September 6th, 2017

Child killer gets 15 years to life in prison

Eischen beat ex-girlfriend's 4-year-old son

By Ed Gebert
CELINA - Cory William Eischen on Tuesday received the maximum penalty of 15 years to life in prison on charges stemming from the Sept. 25, 2016, death of 4-year-old Jaxxen Baker.
"I am truly appalled that a human being would be capable of such brutality," visiting judge Randall Basinger said at the sentencing in Mercer County Common Pleas Court.
Eischen, 40, of Washington Township had pleaded guilty Aug. 23 to an unspecified felony charge of murder, a second-degree felony child-endangering charge and one count of third-degree felony domestic violence. In a plea agreement, six charges - aggravated murder, murder, involuntary manslaughter, felonious assault and endangering children - were dropped.
Basinger on Tuesday pronounced a sentence of 15 years to life, with credit given for 345 days already served. By law, the sentence would allow Eischen to petition for parole after five years, but Basinger said he was recommending to the parole board that Eischen not be considered for parole at such an early opportunity.
At the sentencing, three separate story lines came into focus. First was the story of an innocent 4-year-old victim. Second was Eischen's violent history. Third was a case seemingly overlooked by those charged with protecting children.
Jaxxen's mother, Cassidy Spitzer, spoke of her horror upon finding that her son was dead at Eischen's hands. Calmly, but emotionally, she spoke of her loss and the horrors of that day.
"It didn't have to happen. Why and how could any person hurt an innocent 4-year-old child?" she asked.
Her suffering has not ended, she added.
"Months go by. People go back to their happy lives with their children, and they pretend like it didn't even happen," she said. "It doesn't end at the funeral for the mother. It never ends. It is a never-ending living nightmare that I will never wake up from."
She mentioned that the pain is sparked by special occasions and normal, everyday happenings.
"As most families got to watch their 5-year-old child get on the school bus for the first day of kindergarten, I had to spend mine at the cemetery," Spitzer related.
Jaxxon's grandfather, Marty Spitzer, described his grandson, who had vacationed with his family in 2015.
"Jaxxen was a precocious, loving, inquisitive, vibrant 4-year-old. He loved monster trucks, insects, butterflies, riding his bike and his family. In short, he was the typical and perfect all-American boy," he said.
Marty Spitzer noted that during that vacation, Jaxxen and his older brother seemed to be afraid of Eischen, their mother's then-boyfriend. He then pointed out that on the fatal day while Eischen was watching Jaxxen, a lot of support was available.
"There were support people nearby the house that day who could have been called to take a timeout," Marty Spitzer said. "No child should be killed for an unwillingness to eat their lunch."
On that day, Eischen was arrested after Mercer County Sheriff's deputies responded to calls concerning the welfare of a child at 5098 Rauh Road in Washington Township. A man had called the Mercer County Sheriff's Office, saying his wife had picked up a child at that residence, and another child at the home was unresponsive.
Baker reportedly was taken to Mercer County Community Hospital, Coldwater, with reported obvious, extensive injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
On Tuesday, Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Fox opted not to read a list of injuries found on Jaxxen's body.
However, the visiting judge of Putnam County said, "It can only be summarized as an incredibly significant and brutal beating of a defenseless child."
At the sentencing, Basinger told Eischen, "Domestic violence and violent behavior have been part of your life for a significant period of time."
The judge read a long list of past crimes from Eischen's record, including breaking and entering, assault and convictions for domestic violence in 1993, 2004 and attempted domestic violence in 2014.
"You were given the opportunities to deal with your aggressive, assaulting behaviors, which apparently failed to be successful," Basinger stated.
Basinger was also deeply concerned about an Oct. 5, 2016, incident involving Eischen and Jaxxen, in which Mercer County Child Protective Services was called.
According to Fox, that case was transferred to Montgomery County, since the boy's mother lived there at the time. No report from Montgomery County Child Protective Services could be located, leading Basinger to believe the case was never fully investigated.
"It appears to the court that a more complete investigation should have been done," he said.
Basinger said that while a more thorough investigation would not necessarily have prevented the child's death, "I think that fact should teach us all a lesson, those of us who are participating in this system. Events like this sometimes have appalling consequences."
Defense attorney Kirk McVay said he could offer no explanations.
"There is nothing I can say to explain what happened and why," he said.
Eischen himself offered no explanations when he spoke.
Eischen, in a dark suit with a blue dress shirt and no tie, sat at the defense table between attorneys McVay and Richard Chamberlain. When asked for a statement by Basinger, Eischen remained seated but turned his head toward where Cassidy Spitzer had been sitting with members of her family, and said while crying, "I'm so sorry. I didn't intend for this to happen."
Additional online stories on this date
CELINA - Good weather improved the financial picture at this year's Mercer County Fair, board members learned at Tuesday night's meeting.
"Mother N [More]
ST. MARYS - New Bremen made some uncharacteristic mistakes in the opening set of Tuesday's match with St. Marys, and the Roughriders deserved some credit for that. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
CELINA - Mercer County commissioners unanimously moved to approve sheriff Jeff Grey's request to purchase a full-body security scanning system to detect contraband, chiefly drugs, hidden inside or upon people entering the county jail.
MINSTER - Council members on Tuesday approved half of a previously discussed wastewater rate ordinance that affects local industry.
The measure was
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP - At least two people were injured in a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Frahm Pike and State Route 118 just before 10 a.m. today.
Professionals, educators team up
CELINA - Area professionals and teachers are cooperating more closely to better prepare students for success after high school, Mercer County Educational Service Center Curriculum Director Karen Rose told Celina Rotarians on Tuesday afternoon.
ROCKFORD - Council members on Tuesday learned that the owner of a property on West Market Street wants the land to be annexed into the village.
Vi
CELINA - Two people were taken to area hospitals after a head-on collision Thursday afternoon on U.S. 127 near West Bank Road.
Joseph L. Rutschill
VAN WERT - St. Marys split its goals evenly over the two halves and improved to 2-0 in Western Buckeye League girls soccer action with an 8-0 win over Van Wert at Van Wert High School on Tuesday afternoon.The Roughriders improve to 2-1-1 (2-0-0 WBL) with the victory.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Jency Jenkins had a hat trick and Elida defeated Celina 5-2 in Western Buckeye League girls soccer action on Tuesday evening at the Elida Athletic Complex.