ASHTABULA, Ohio (AP) - Authorities say an Ohio woman has become the second person charged in the rape and beating death of her 13-month-old daughter last year.
The Ashtabula Star Beacon reports the indictment Wednesday of 23-year-old Kelsie Blankenship, of Conneaut, on a murder charge in Sereniti Jazzlynn-Sky Sutley’s death follows the indictment last November of her live-in boyfriend, 38-year-old Joshua Gurto, on aggravated murder and rape charges. Gurto was not the child’s father.
A coroner ruled the toddler died in October 2017 from blunt-force trauma to the head and body.
People were interested in these podcasts
Blankenship is scheduled for arraignment Tuesday. Court records don’t indicate whether she has an attorney.
Ashtabula County Prosecutor Nicholas Iarocci said at a Friday news conference that Blankenship has been a person of interest since her daughter died and has cooperated with investigators.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.