Jurors could get baby-assault case today

        HAMILTON — A Butler County jury could begin deliberating today in the case of a Middletown man accused of causing serious brain injury to his fiancee's young son.

        In a trial that began Monday, Jonathan A. Whyte, 22, faces up to eight years in prison if convicted on a second-degree felony charge of child endangering.

        The charge specifies that he caused serious physical harm to Kajaleek Whyte. Now nearly 2 years old, the child suffered a fractured skull and a serious brain injury that put him into a coma in September 2001.

        Police have said Mr. Whyte is not the child's biological father.

        Kajaleek has come out of the coma but is expected to suffer significant lifelong disabilities, authorities say. Police have said his injuries were consistent with shaken baby syndrome.
       

Police seek suspect in drive-by shooting

        Police were searching Tuesday night for a suspect in a drive-by shooting of a man in Winton Hills.

        The shooting occurred about 10:05 p.m. near the intersection of Kings Run Drive and Este Avenue, police said. The victim, an unidentified man in his 20s, was taken to University Hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds to the arm and stomach. The wounds did not appear to be life-threatening, a nursing supervisor said. The suspect in the shooting is described as a black man in his 20s, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-11, with a medium build. He was wearing sunglasses and a dark bandanna. He was last seen in a dark, two-door, newer-model Cadillac.

Parents of missing man consult psychics

        COVINGTON — Walter and Debbie Dowdle grasped for a sliver of hope Tuesday froman unlikely source: psychics.

Dowdle

        Nothing else has led to their 26-year-old son Lon, who was on a business trip from Alabama when he disappeared early Thursday while a friend waited for him to return to the Waffle House in Covington.

        “We feel like God can use anybody,” Mrs. Dowdle said of hot line calls from psychics who suggested searchers on Tuesday revisit Devou Park in Covington. “So we're not going to totally ignore anything.”

        The Devou Park tip, and another from a self-described psychic who told supporters to stake out the Travelodge in Newport, yielded nothing.

        Lon Dowdle's companion the night he disappeared, John Dark, underwent a polygraph test Tuesday. Covington police said they would not release the results.

        Investigators have not labeled Mr. Dark, or anyone else, a suspect, but have said repeatedly they haven't found evidence that shows foul play or discounts it.

        Walter Dowdle's international fixture company, Madix Inc., employed his son Lon as a sales representative.
       

Judge allows man's statements to police

        A Hamilton County jury will hear statements John Broe made to Cincinnati police about the death of his pregnant wife.

        Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge David P. Davis Tuesday rejected a defense motion that contended police coerced the 25-year-old Carthage man into talking about his alleged part in the death of his 24-year-old wife, Shannon.

        Several investigators testified Tuesday that Mr. Broe voluntarily waived his rights, agreed to speak with them and never asked for an attorney.

        Police also said Mr. Broe voluntarily took a lie detector test and failed it.

        Mrs. Broe, who was five months pregnant, was beaten to death Sept. 7 inside the North Bend Road home she shared with her husband.

        Her body was found three days later, buried in a container near an entrance ramp to southbound Interstate 71.

        Mr. Broe told police that his wife came toward him with a knife during an argument and he hit her five times in the head with a baseball bat. He told them he later dumped her body.

        He is charged with two counts each of aggravated murder and murder, and one count of tampering with evidence.

        His jury trial is scheduled for April 22.
       

Grand jury indicts girl in bleach death

        A 14-year-old girl whose father died after bleach was thrown on him was indicted Tuesday by a Hamilton County grand jury.

        The teen, who will become Ohio's first juvenile to undergo a jury trial, will be tried on felony counts of involuntary manslaughter and felonious assault in the death of Archie Dale Hall of Avondale.

        The girl has been classified as a serious youthful offender. A state law that took effect in January allows juvenile court judges to order that classification, which provides the child with the right to have her case heard by a jury.

        The trial has been scheduled for April 29 before Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Sylvia Sieve Hendon.

        Mr. Hall, 39, died Feb. 18. He and his daughter had argued Jan. 28 over the girl's 17-year-old boyfriend. At some point, the argument became physical and Mr. Hall was doused with bleach.

        A coroner's report determined that Mr. Hall died as a result of bleach inhalation.
       

Service tonight prays for Mideast

        The public is invited to a prayer service tonight to ask for wisdom, guidance and healing for those involved in the Middle East crisis.

        The event, sponsored by the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center and St. Monica-St. George parish, begins at 7 p.m. at the church, 328 W. McMillan Ave., Clifton Heights.

        For information, call 579-8547.

Holocaust lecture focuses on altruism

        As part of Holocaust Awareness Weeks, Dr. Racelle Weiman today will present a lecture, “Righteousness Can Be Taught: Role Models from the Holocaust.”

        Dr. Weiman, director of the Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, will tell stories of “righteous gentiles,” people who saved the lives of thousands of Jews during World War II.

        The chief researcher for the book Righteous Gentiles, Dr. Weiman is dedicated to teaching the legacies of goodness and helping people nurture altruistic behaviors in themselves and in children.

        A hot buffet lunch is available for $8. There is a $2 fee to attend the lecture only.

        The program starts at noon at Mayerson Hall Auditorium, 3101 Clifton Ave., Clifton. For reservations, call 221-1875, Ext. 353.

Interfaith lecture studies views on Jesus

        Jews and Catholics will come together tonight for the first in a series of addresses in memory of the Rev. Richard A. Marzheuser.

        Dr. Michael J. Cook, a professor at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, will deliver the lecture, “Evolving Jewish Views of Jesus.” It is free and begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Bartlett Pastoral Center at the Athenaeum of Ohio-Mount St. Mary's Seminary, 6616 Beechmont Ave, Mount Washington.

        Father Marzheuser was the academic dean of the seminary when he died two years ago at age 50.

UC's "Neurofest' is all about brains

        From using stem cells to treat Parkinson's disease to latest research on “axon guidance,” neuroscience experts will gather in Cincinnati on Friday and Saturday to talk about brains during the University of Cincinnati's annual “Neurofest” conference.

        This year, top speakers include Dr. Zach Hall, former director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and Dr. Anders Bjorklund, an expert in stem-cell transplants.

        For information, call 558-1703.

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