Mother of boy who fell sought; caretakers held for court
A Butler couple accused of failing to seek medical care for a 2-year-old boy who fell out of a second-story window at their home was ordered to stand trial at their preliminary hearing Monday.
Michael J. Blontz, 37, and his wife, Ruth N. Blontz, 37, are each charged with a felony count of child endangerment.
The victim suffered a broken pelvis in the fall July 3 from the Blontzes home on the 500 block of West Jefferson Street, authorities said.
Butler police, meanwhile, are still looking for the child's mother, Krystal A. Otto, 32, who they also charged last week with felony child endangerment in the same incident.
None of the three defendants called 911 to get medical treatment for the boy, said Det. Eric Klopfer, who was the lone witness to testify Monday before District Judge William Fullerton.
Both defense attorneys asked Fullerton to dismiss the charges.
“There is a great absence of any reliable evidence,” Patrick Casey, Michael Blontz's court appointed attorney, said, “of how this infant suffered injury on July 3.”
J.W. Hernandez-Cuebas, Ruth Blontz's court-appointed attorney, said Ruth Blontz “immediately tended to” and “comforted” the victim after learning what happened, and texted his mother.
“There is no evidence my client knowingly endangered” the child, he argued. Instead, “she did something about it.”
Fullerton ordered the couple held for court. Ruth Blontz is free on bail. Michael Blontz is free on his own recognizance.
Read the full update on the case in Tuesday's Butler Eagle.
