INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis father has been convicted of the death of his 28-day-old son in 2019.
Michael Gaunt was convicted of aggravated battery and neglect of a dependent resulting in death during a one-day trial on Monday. Both charges are Level 1 felonies.
On Dec. 20, 2019, IMPD officers were dispatched to the 4900 block of Rockville Road on the city’s west side in response to a child not breathing. When officers arrived they found 28-day-old Leo Grant unresponsive.
The infant was taken to an area hospital where he later died on Dec. 23, 2019.
On the same day as the infant's death, the Marion County Coroner found that the baby boy had died as a result of multiple blunt force trauma and ruled the case a homicide.
During the investigation, the child's mother claimed she left the home on the day the child sustained the injuries and when she returned, Gaunt didn't allow her to call for help.
“As a parent, it is unimaginable that an individual could commit a crime on an innocent child. While nothing constitutes this tragic loss of life, this verdict is the first step in holding Mr. Gaunt accountable for his actions,” said Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears in a statement following the conviction.
Gaunt's sentencing hearing is set for Wednesday, May 25 at 2 p.m.
-
StubHub ticket issues leave IU fans out of Big Ten Title Game
Some IU football fans are calling for more accountability from third-party ticket platforms after they say problems with StubHub kept them from getting into Saturday’s Big Ten Championship.
Fernando Mendoza is the AP college football player of the year
Fernando Mendoza was named Associated Press player of the year on Thursday after leading unbeaten and top-ranked Indiana to its first Big Ten championship.
Indiana Senate rejects redrawing congressional maps
The Indiana Senate is set to convene at 1:30 p.m. Thursday for what could be the final vote on a redistricting bill that has divided lawmakers and sparked heated debate across the state.
Indianapolis DPW plows major trails, protected bike lanes for first time
For the first time, Indianapolis crews are plowing protected bike lanes and major commuter trails during winter — changes that cyclists say have made a “huge improvement” over previous years.
