Jason T. Santos and Jamilee Hunt, aged 37, have been indicted by a grand jury on multiple charges, which include rape, in relation to the severe injuries sustained by a young child.
Located in Akron, Ohio, a Summit County grand jury has brought forth indictments against two individuals, accusing them of various offenses, with rape being one of them. This case revolves around the disturbingly severe injuries suffered by a one-year-old female at the Red Roof Inn in Springfield Township just last month.
According to Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich, Jason T. Santos and Jamilee Hunt, both 37, were indicted on the following charges:
- One count of rape
- Five counts of felonious assault
- One count of endangering children (2nd-degree felony)
- One count of endangering children (3rd-degree felony)
Furthermore, Hunt faces an indictment on a charge of endangering children in the fourth degree. This charge stems from a prior conviction she holds, which involves an offense related to neglect, abandonment, contributing to the delinquency of, or physically abusing a child.
CASE BACKGROUND
Springfield Township police and fire were dispatched to the Red Roof Inn on 2939 Arlington Road at around 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 22 after a 911 call about an unresponsive infant in one of the rooms.
After officers began CPR, police say the girl regained a pulse and began breathing. However, first responders discovered the baby had “multiple fractures of her arms, legs, and ribs with extensive bruising all over her body and additional injuries to her internal organs.”
The infant was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, which is when medical personnel discovered “further injuries that were consistent with sexual assault.”
According to Springfield Township police, after the baby girl was taken to the hospital, the attention of detectives turned toward the couple who called police: Santos and Hunt.
Springfield Township police previously had a run-in with Santos and Hunt at the Kohl’s near the Red Roof Inn on Nov. 11. The caller said the couple was arguing with someone and throwing items. Body camera video from the interaction shows the baby appearing to be in good health.
After the incident with the baby on Nov. 22, Detective John Simms told 3News that Hunt disappeared. They detained Santos and took him to the police station where they interviewed him. Simms said he lied repeatedly about the baby’s injuries, initially blaming it on their dog before pointing the finger at his girlfriend Hunt.
RELATED: 2 arrested after 1-year-old girl found with ‘signs of severe trauma’ at Red Roof Inn in Summit County
“There’s no way you can look at her and tell us you didn’t know she was injured,” Simms said. “He (Santos) still denied having anything to do with her injuries and he still hadn’t asked even how his daughter was doing. He didn’t seem to care.”
When they located Hunt the next day, Simms said she also lied about the baby’s injuries and her own name. She blamed Santos for the injuries, Simms said.
Despite the seriousness of the baby’s injuries, the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office stated that she has survived and is continuing to recover at the hospital.
“These were horrific crimes against a baby and my office will work hard to hold these offenders accountable,” said Kolkovich. “I want to thank the Springfield Township first responders for their quick action that saved this child’s life, and I hope that her condition continues to improve.”
3News’ Matt Rascon and Ryan Haidet contributed to this report
