Now Joe C. Watson IV is in the county jail on two counts of murder, two counts of child endangering, one count of felonious assault, and one additional count of child endangering-torture.
Watson told Dayton detectives Levi fell down a set of stairs on Dec. 7 at 121 Shoop Ave., the home of Watson’s parents.
He said the child did not appear to be injured and was put to bed that night. Watson said when he woke up then next morning, he discovered the toddler in distress and rushed him to the hospital.
Sgt. Dan Mauch of the homicide unit said Watson’s story did not jibe with the coroner’s findings. Detectives said Levi appeared to have been systematically beaten and abused.
Levi’s mother, 22-year-old Michelle Mooty, also is in jail charged with permitting child abuse.
On Nov. 28, a Children Services Bureau caseworker visited Levi’s family.
Children Services had opened a case with the family Nov. 18 on a referral, said Ann Stevens of Montgomery County Jobs & Family Services.
Details of the referral and home visits are not public records under state law.
Mooty does not live at the Shoop address, and detectives believe she and Watson have a shared parenting agreement even though Levi is not Watson’s biological son. The couple do have a 6-month-old daughter.
Mooty’s other three children, who range in age from 6 months to 6 years, are with relatives, Stevens said.
According to police and court records, Watson has several arrests on charges of domestic violence. Those charges were dropped in Municipal Court when the victims did not show up for hearings.
On Oct. 18, Mooty called police to the Shoop address to complain that Watson had slapped her in the face in front of her children. She told police he had “anger problems,” according to the police report.
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