Bellefontaine man faces charges in death of his son

BELLEFONTAINE — Five-year-old Michael G. Barton died early Wednesday after medical efforts failed to save him from recently sustained head injuries.

Doctors at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus checked for brain activity with a test at 11 p.m. following medical protocol to wait 12 hours between tests.

There was no activity and by 12:44 a.m. Michael was declared dead.

The additional testing was requested by his father, Anthony Barton, 24, of Bellefontaine, who is currently lodged in the Logan County Jail on a charge of felony child endangering.

Michael was lifeless and limp around 12:15 p.m. Monday when paramedics with the Bellefontaine Fire & EMS Department and officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department were called to Skybree Schindler’s 1076 Heritage Court residence.

Paramedics were able to revive him and begin advance life support for his helicopter transport to Columbus.

Initial reports indicate the child sustained injuries, but authorities are not releasing details of his injuries.

“The death affects our entire community,” Police Chief Brandon Standley said. “This is not just one victim, this is a case that ties us all together in sadness for this little boy. The staff at the Bellefontaine Police Department have worked tirelessly to bring about justice for Michael, and will remain steadfast on doing just that.”

More charges are pending the results of an autopsy which is set for today.

Logan County Prosecutor William T. Goslee said the current charge should be enough to hold the suspect until the autopsy results are available.

Detectives have yet to file paperwork with the Bellefontaine Municipal Court and no arraignment has been set on the initial charge.

The six-foot, four inch, 220-pound suspect is the custodial parent and splits his time between Schindler’s residence and 441 Plumvalley St., authorities believe.

Schindler and the suspect were at the residence Monday when Michael was carried from the residence.

She made the 911 call asking for a squad.

“My friend showed up with his son and he is not breathing,” she told police dispatchers. “We’re not feeling a heart beat.”

She assured the dispatcher cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts were under way, but Michael had not been breathing for several minutes.

When asked by the dispatcher if anything had happened to Michael, Schindler responded, “He fell the other day and he had bruises on his face, but that was three days ago.

“Today he fell and he started breathing funny.”

Examiner archive records indicate the suspect has a history of violence. Goslee’s office reports he also has a record of violence from when he was a juvenile.

In October, the father was arrested on warrants for assault and furnishing alcohol to an underage person.

He also was charged in 2012 and 2011 with domestic violence each time for incidents involving Michael’s mother, Stephanie Hartline.

She has not seen the boy for several months, prosecutors report.

A Logan County grand jury charged him in 2009 with breaking and entering, and in March 2010, he was sentenced to five years’ probation for the fifth-degree felony.

By JOEL E. MAST
Examiner Staff Writer