Dayton man indicted on murder charge in 2-month-old son’s death

Credit: William Clouse / Montgomery County Jail

Credit: William Clouse / Montgomery County Jail

A Dayton man was indicted on murder charges in the death of his 2-month old son that happened one year ago.

William Clouse, 39, was is scheduled to appear Feb. 25 in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court for his arraignment on counts of murder, involuntary manslaughter, endangering children (serious physical harm), reckless homicide and endangering children (parent).

His son, Gabriel Clouse, died Feb. 5, 2020, at Dayton Children’s Hospital.

Police and medics were dispatched Feb. 2, 2020, to a home on the 800 block of Wyoming Street in Dayton for a call about an infant not breathing.

“The victim, 2-month-old Gabriel Clouse, was transported to Dayton Children’s Hospital,” according to a release from the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office. “The infant died three days later, on Feb. 5. An autopsy revealed the infant suffered from a skull fracture and brain hemorrhages. The defendant was alone with the infant when these injuries occurred.”

In a 9-1-1 call that prompted the police response, a man identified in records as William Clouse told dispatchers that his baby needed help.

“He got some milk in his lungs or something. I don’t know, he’s not breathing,” the man said.

The dispatcher talked the man through CPR, and the baby began making noises, according to the call, and the man said milk started to come out the baby’s nose. Authorities arrived at the home soon after.

Clouse was booked around 4:30 p.m. Friday into the Montgomery County Jail, records show.

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