A 12-year-old boy died on Saturday, March 22, in Akron, Ohio, after he was allegedly told to endure “ice bath” punishments, police said in a criminal complaint, Cleveland.com, KGNS and The Mansfield New Journal.
Anthony McCants, 23, was charged with felony child endangerment in connection with the death of Jadako Taylor, 12, according to the Akron Municipal Court.
Police said McCants was responsible for the safety of Jadako, per court documents, Cleveland.com reports, citing the complaint. Their relationship has not been specified; however, authorities said McCants is “known to the family,” per KGNS.
Between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m. EST on Saturday, McCants allegedly forced Jadako to take two ice baths, Cleveland.com reports. The first ice bath was 45 minutes, and during the short breaks, Jadako was allegedly forced to do pushups and other physical activities. The second ice bath lasted 30 minutes.
“These incidents were used as corporal punishment,” the complaint alleged, per The Mansfield New Journal. After Jadako’s second round of “punishment,” he began to “vomit and seize.”
Authorities responded to calls of a cardiac arrest around 2:30 p.m. at McCants’ home in Akron, Ohio, Summit County Medical Examiner (SCME) said in a press release.
“First responders arrived on scene and discovered a 12-year-old boy unresponsive and not breathing,” per the SCME news release. The first responders administered life-saving measures to Taylor on-site.
Jadako was then taken to Akron Children’s Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead at 3:45 p.m. At the time of death, Jadako’s body temperature was 74 degrees Fahrenheit, per Cleveland.com. Hypothermia is a condition “that occurs when core body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit,” per the Mayo Clinic.
The SCME’s autopsy report of Jadako’s cause of death is still pending.
McCants is in the custody of the Summit County Jail, with a bail of $500,000 bond. A trial date has yet to be set.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490 or 330-375-2Tip.
Representatives for the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Akron Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Tuesday.
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If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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