Prosecutor: Murdered child had cigarette burns, bite marks, brain trauma
A 24-year-old woman and her boyfriend are facing murder and child abuse charges in the August 2022 death of the woman's 21-month-old son, officials said.
Hydia Hamilton-Smith has been in the Hamilton County jail since August 2022, when she was arrested and charged with child endangerment.
On July 31, 2022, she called 911 to report that her son, Darnell Gamble, had "a burn injury," according to prosecutors.
Darnell was taken to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, where he ultimately was pronounced dead.
An autopsy revealed that Darnell had numerous injuries, including cigarette burns and other burns of an undetermined cause, prosecutors said. He also had bite marks on his shoulder, arm, leg, hands and fingers, prosecutors said, a lacerated liver, fractured rib, optic nerve damage and brain trauma.
The cause of death was determined to be head trauma, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors say the boy was in the care of Hamilton-Smith and her boyfriend, 31-year-old Rodney Williams, when the injuries happened. Hamilton-Smith lived in Roselawn.
Both have been indicted on charges including murder, felonious assault and child endangerment. Their indictments were announced Wednesday by Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers, who was sworn in last week.
Hamilton-Smith's attorney, Kerry Neff, did not return a message seeking comment. Williams did not have an attorney listed in court records Wednesday.
Williams also was indicted on separate child abuse charges, dating back to 2018, in connection with a former girlfriend's 2-year-old son. That boy survived, but had injuries including abdominal bruising, liver lacerations, fluid in his pelvis and bite marks.
"What happened to these innocent babies is horrific. I can’t imagine the pain these children suffered during their short lives," Powers said in a statement. "Someone who is capable of something like this should never get out of prison."
Williams was arrested and jailed Wednesday, records say.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Mother, boyfriend charged in 2022 death of Darnell Gamble
