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Allen Co. sheriff investigates death of 2-year-old girl

JENNIFER FEEHAN BLADE STAFF WRITER
Toledo Blade
March 28, 2007

LIMA, Ohio - Saying he was "freaking out," Daniel Stiles told a 911 operator his girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter was "barely breathing."

Her stomach was bloated, he said, and she wouldn't respond to him.

"I hear her crying. I went in the room, and she wouldn't do anything," Mr. Stiles said during the 911 call he placed just before noon Friday.

Allen County sheriff's deputies and paramedics arrived at a duplex on Stevick Road about four miles west of Lima a short time later and rushed the little girl, Mia Jorris, to St. Rita's Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Allen County Sheriff Dan Beck said that while deputies were at the duplex, they found that Mia's 3-year-old brother, Matthew Jorris, also was hurt.

The little boy, who had sustained blunt force trauma to the abdomen, was taken to St. Rita's and then transferred to Toledo Children's Hospital, the sheriff said. A hospital spokesman said she had no information on Matthew.

"He was struck at least once - probably. We're still sorting out what happened," Sheriff Beck said yesterday.

Mr. Stiles, 29, was arraigned yesterday in Lima Municipal Court on one count of felonious assault stemming from the attack on Matthew. Judge William Lauber set bond at $500,000 but said Mr. Stiles could post 10 percent of that. A preliminary hearing was set for April 3.

Sheriff Beck said he anticipated additional charges being filed stemming from the death of Mia, although those may not come until after a grand jury convenes. He said the little girl's death is being investigated as a homicide, although investigators had not yet received the autopsy results.

Dr. Gary Beasley, Allen County coroner, said yesterday that he did not have a "confirmatory cause" of death for Mia and could not comment further on the case, which remains under investigation. An autopsy was conducted Monday at the Lucas County Coroner's Office, Toledo.

Sheriff Beck said detectives interviewed several people, including the children's mother. He said it was unclear where she was at the time the children were assaulted.

"We have a fairly good idea of what happened, but we need to finalize our interviews," he said.

The sheriff said Allen County Children's Services had been to the residence several times prior to Friday's incident.

Scott Ferris, executive director of the child protection agency, said he could not comment on the case because of the ongoing criminal investigation but said his agency was cooperating with the sheriff and prosecutor.

"The case record we have has been seized and is being used as part of the investigation," he said.

Admin · Site Admin Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 2711

Man charged in attack against boy, girl’s death under investigation

Greg Sowinski
Lima News
03-28-2007

LIMA — In a 911 call, Daniel Stiles sounded desperate and frantic as he reported a 2-year-old girl was not breathing.

The operator tried to lead him through cardiopulmonary resuscitation while sending paramedics to the duplex at 365 S. Stevick Road.

His attempts and those by emergency responders could not save 2-year-old Mia Jorris. She was pronounced dead a short time later at the hospital.

“She’s like barely breathing, her stomach is bloated and she will not respond,” he said when a 911 operator answered.

A moment later he said, “I’m freaking out.”

The call was made just before 11 a.m. Friday by the 29-year-old Stiles. During most of the call, the operator is trying to calm Stiles and explain CPR. He is crying and in a panic as he tries to follow instructions.

“Come on,” he’s heard saying in an emotional voice.

Stiles never said how the girl received her injuries.

“I heard her whimpering in the bedroom. I went in there,” he said.

At the end of the call, which is 4 minutes and 42 seconds, Stiles told the operator a deputy had arrived. He asked the operator if he can hang up.

Investigators are not releasing details on exactly what happened. Allen County Sheriff Dan Beck said Stiles was charged with felonious assault in connection with injuries the young girl’s 3-year-old brother, Matthew Jorris, suffered.

“He was diagnosed with abdominal trauma caused by blunt force,” Beck said.

The young boy was first taken to St. Rita’s Medical Center and then transferred to Children’s Hospital in Toledo, Beck said. He remained in that hospital Tuesday in stable condition, a prosecutor said.

Kristy Altenbach, a neighbor on Stevick Road said she went to the home to get Matthew after the incident Friday. The boy appeared sick and was throwing up but she initially thought he may have eaten something bad, she said.

“He was holding his stomach saying it hurts bad,” she said. “I couldn’t see anything. The only thing I noticed is that he was getting sick.”

Altenbach alerted a deputy who called another paramedic for help, she said.

A short time after the incident, the children’s mother, Kristen Jorris, arrived home. She and Stiles drove to the hospital. Before they left, Stiles was in the parking lot crying and told Jorris he was worried police would arrest him for an outstanding warrant, Altenbach said.

Stiles is charged with felonious assault in connection with the boy’s injuries and is being held on that charge. He has not been charged in the girl’s death, which remained under investigation, Beck said.

The sheriff also declined to discuss how the girl died or her injuries. An autopsy was performed Saturday but Allen County Coroner Gary Beasley referred questions to Beck on Tuesday.

“We’re still trying to put together what really happened. We have received some conflicting information and we are in the process of sorting that out,” Beck said.

Stiles was not immediately arrested following his 911 call. Beck said he was arrested two days later.

The two toddlers are the children of Stiles’ girlfriend. He is not their father, Beck said.

Allen County Children Services Director Scott Ferris declined to comment Tuesday on whether his agency had previous involvement with Stiles, citing the pending criminal case.

Meanwhile, Stiles appeared at a bond hearing Tuesday at Lima Municipal Court where bond was set at $500,000. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Tuesday. Stiles told Judge William Lauber he did not have an attorney or money to pay an attorney. Lauber said he would appoint an attorney.

Stiles has a criminal history including felony possession of crack cocaine, a charge he pleaded down to a misdemeanor in 2001. He has no crimes of violence on his record. Other charges included two drunken-driving convictions and no operator’s license.

At the time of the incident, authorities had a warrant for Stiles’ arrest on the charge of failing to reinstate his driver license. The warrant was issued March 2 after he failed to appear in court.

Altenbach said Matthew was a good boy. Altenbach said she never observed injuries on Matthew while he was at her home other than a broken leg he had almost a year ago and Jorris told her different stories on how it occurred.

Stiles had lived with Jorris for the past six months or so, and before to that had an off-and-on relationship with her, Altenbach said. Stiles was married and going back and forth between Jorris his wife with who he had children, she said.

He did not work and stayed with the children while Jorris was at work at a local restaurant, Altenbach said.

Altenbach described the inside of the Jorris/Stiles apartment as dirty with what appeared to be food spilled on the floor and not picked up.

On the apartment door Tuesday was an eviction notice for Jorris for nonpayment of rent that her landlord left Monday.

Admin · Site Admin Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 2711

2-year-old girl’s death a homicide investigation

Greg Sowinski
Lima News
03-29-2007

LIMA — The death of a 2-year-old girl is being investigated as a homicide by all nine members of the Allen County Sheriff’s Office detectives bureau, Sheriff Dan Beck said Wednesday.

The investigation into the death of Mia Jorris is the bureau’s top priority, Beck said.

That investigation continued Wednesday with Daniel Stiles as the lead suspect in the child’s death. He is being held on the charge of felonious assault in connection with injuries to Jorris’ 3-year-old brother, Matthew Jorris. The young boy suffered blunt-force trauma to his abdomen. He was found injured at the same time deputies and paramedics responded to help his sister, Beck said.

The incident involving the two children occurred Friday at 365 S. Stevick Road. Stiles, 29, lived at the home with his girlfriend, Kristen Jorris, the mother of the two children. Stiles is not their father.

Stiles is expected to be charged in connection with the death of Mia Jorris in the next few weeks. Beck said he is not worried about Stiles getting out of jail because he is being held on the felonious assault charge with a $500,000 bond.

Meanwhile, investigators spent Wednesday interviewing the mother of the two children. She was at work Friday morning when Stiles called 911 reporting the young girl was not breathing, Beck said.

Investigators also have obtained reports and other records from Allen County Children’s Services. Beck said that agency has had contact with the children in the past but Beck did not say much more.

“They had been at this residence before this death,” Beck said.

Beck did not have the autopsy report Wednesday but said an investigator will talk to the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy on Mia Jorris today to learn more about the injuries and cause of her death.

Mia Jorris was buried Tuesday at Toledo Memorial Park Cemetery following her funeral. Mia Jorris turned 2 on Jan. 15.

Admin · Site Admin Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 2711

These children should matter a lot earlier than they do

Lima News
Ronald Lederman Jr.
4-01-2007

The phrase “but for the grace of God go I” doesn’t exactly fit. Too many factors — good parents who put their children’s welfare first, chief among them — suggest many of us never had to worry about what will be in the news going forward.

Still, the phrase is about as close as you’re going to get. Mom and dad might have spanked, but abuse? Never close. Probably most of us are that fortunate. But we all ought to be worried about those who aren’t.

I refer specifically to the death of 2-year-old Mia Jorris. The Allen County Sheriff’s Office last week arrested the live-in boyfriend of the girl’s mother. Daniel Stiles, 29, is being held on the charge of felonious assault in connection to injuries to Mia’s 3-year-old brother, Matthew Jorris. The boy was found injured with blunt-force trauma to his abdomen at the same time deputies and paramedics responded to a 911 call about his sister.

Allen County Coroner Gary Beasley told The Lima News on Thursday that Mia’s death “looks like a homicide.” Allen County Prosecutor Juergen Waldick expects the charge stemming from Matthew’s injuries to go before the grand jury in another week. Beasley’s autopsy report should lead to more charges.

So we’ll be reading and hearing about these poor children for a while. Same as we read and heard in recent years about babies being shaken to death by a Van Wert woman and a Columbus Grove man. No mistake, children dying at the hands of adults is news; the penalties imposed on those who have killed children should serve as warning to others who would lose their tempers on the weakest of subjects.

But the number 652 demonstrates that, right here in Allen County, too many children remain at risk. That number would be how many Allen County children had reports made about them in 2005 because of abuse, said Donna Dickman, director of Partnership for Violence Free Families. Those are the children you don’t read about, whose abuse doesn’t lead the evening news.

But they shouldn’t end up dead before the abuse they suffer matters to the rest of us.
The city of Lima’s prosecutors — David Geiger, Todd Kohlrieser and Heather Phipps — told me the cases their office handles aren’t an everyday or even an every week thing. They prosecute cases that investigators don’t deem serious enough to merit felony charges, what ends up being child endangerment, assault and domestic violence. At most, those mean 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

A child growing up in a house that believes in spanking might be horrified by the list the three prosecutors gave of objects parent use to discipline: belt buckles, cords, spoons, even a fly swatter among them.

The good news, if you can call it good news with 2005’s 652 abused children — only those who had reports made, mind you — is that Allen County hasn’t suffered a child’s death because of abuse for a number of years. Allen County Health Commissioner Dave Rosebrock told me that, since his office began compiling information on childhood deaths to report to the state, there hasn’t been one directly related to abuse. “I would have guessed differently when we started tracking things in January 2001, but the truth is we have not had any directly to abuse that we’ve seen,” Rosebrock said.

It’s inescapable that the person abusing the child bears the majority of the blame. In a society where government exists to protect rights, it’s a sad reality that government can mostly act on such only after the fact. There will be some disagreement moving forward about whether someone besides the man charged for one child’s injuries owns some blame. That 652 children are known to have been abused in 2005 suggests we all hold some blame.

deb · Joined: 03 Oct 2006 Posts: 113

A little 2 year old girl, Mia Jorris is dead and her little 31/2 year old brother Matthew is in Toledo children's hospital, due to blunt force to his abdomen. Sadly 2 mo. prior to all this tragic, a neighbor and his wife decided to call Children Services to report abuse on the little 2 year old, she had two black eyes and marks around her throat. For some reason Children Services told this concerned gentleman to call American Township ?? We so far can not get answers to WHY. But we do know now this little girl is dead and her little brother is injured. The neighbor should be mad and be commended for his efforts to step in and do the right thing. This little one could still be alive and her brother might not be in the hospital had the neighbors concerns been taken seriously.
This is still under investigation, we will wait to see who let this child down, besides the Mothers boyfriend (Daniel Stiles ) who was watching both children while Mom worked.

Admin · Site Admin Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 2711

Man indicted in death of girl, attack on boy

Greg Sowinski
Lima News
05.04.2007

LIMA — A 29-year-old man was indicted on murder and other charges Thursday over the beating death of a 2-year-old girl and injuries to her 3-year-old brother.

Daniel Stiles, of 365 S. Stevick Road, was charged with murder, attempted murder and four counts of felonious assault. The charges could put him in prison for the rest of his life. Murder carries a 15-year to life sentence while the other charges carry a maximum sentence of 42 years in prison.

Stiles was being held in the Allen County jail in lieu of a $500,000 bond.

The charges stem from the March 23 death of Mia Jorris, 2, and the injuries against her brother, Matthew Jorris. The girl died of blunt-force trauma to her abdomen and the boy suffered the similar trauma.

The incident involving the girl’s death and the injuries to her brother occurred at the apartment on South Stevick Road where Stiles lived with his girlfriend, Kristen Jorris, who is the mother of the two children. Stiles is not the father of the children.

Kristen Jorris was at work when the incident occurred, sheriff’s officials said.

Stiles reported the incident through a 911 call saying the girl was not breathing.

Prosecutor Juergen Waldick declined to discuss the case because of the pending charges.

Allen County Sheriff Dan Beck previously said his investigators were looking at records from Allen County Children Services, which had contact with the children before the fatal day.

Children Services Director Scott Ferris declined to comment on the case because of pending charges but said his agency handled 607 cases of abuse or neglect in 2005. Of those, 360 were cases of abuse, he said.

Reports of abuse come in through several ways from a phone call, letter in the mail, in-person complaint and through someone who works with children such as a teacher who suspects abuse, he said.

Complaints are reviewed by a supervisor and assigned to a case worker who begins an investigation. Evidence of abuse or neglect is passed on to police and prosecutors, Ferris said.

Admin · Site Admin Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 2711

Mom charged with murder in death of her child

Greg Sowinski
Lima News
05.05.2007

LIMA — A mother was charged Friday with murder in the death of her 2-year-old daughter that allegedly occurred at the hands of the mother’s boyfriend.

Sheriff investigators took Kristen Jorris, 32, of 365 S. Stevick Road, into custody Friday. She is charged with murder and two counts of permitting child abuse. Murder carries a 15-year to life sentence while the other two charges carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

Jorris was at work when her boyfriend, Daniel Stiles, called 911 to report 2-year-old Mia Jorris was not breathing. Stiles has already been charged with murder. Jorris was charged with murder based on the allegation she allowed the abuse to happen, which ultimately led to her daughter’s death, according to court records.

Allen County Prosecutor Juergen Waldick declined to discuss the case Friday due to the pending charges.

Jorris was being held in the Allen County jail Friday in lieu of a $500,000 bond. She and Stiles have an arraignment Monday in Allen County Common Pleas Court.

The second count of permitting child abuse is connected to injuries to Jorris’ 3-year-old son, Matthew, according to court records.

Stiles, 29, was indicted Thursday on murder, attempted murder and four counts of felonious assault over the March 23 incident that resulted in the death of Mia Jorris and the injuries to her brother.

The girl died of blunt force trauma to her abdomen and her brother suffered similar trauma to his abdomen, officials have said.

The young boy is out of the hospital and no longer in the custody of his mother or her family, Waldick said, but he declined to elaborate.

Stiles and Jorris lived in the Stevick Road apartment together. He was not the father of the children.

deb · Joined: 03 Oct 2006 Posts: 113

Mia & Matthew needed their Mom to love them protect them and let them feel security....they were let down...either drugs or selfishness no matter what the reason...she should be held accountable for the tragic event's both children endured. Just maybe the truth will come out in trial? Until then we all hope Matthew is being loved...once a community feels the pain of these children and our hearts ache for what happened, it would be great to be told Matthew is going to a loving family, we only hear what we are told....so let's keep Matthew & Mia in our thoughts and prayers.

Admin · Site Admin Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 2711

Statements on baby’s death questioned

Greg Sowinski
The Lima News
06/01/07

LIMA — Murder defendant Daniel Stiles told the first deputy to arrive that a 2-year-old unconscious girl had fallen off a bed.

The deputy tried to help her and Mia Jorris was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. Stiles also let sheriff’s investigators interview him five additional times over Jorris’s death and the injuries to her 3-year-old brother, Matthew Jorris, on March 23.

Stiles, 29, is charged with murder, attempted murder and four counts of felonious assault over the death of the girl and injures to her brother inside an apartment at 365 S. Stevick Road.

Stiles was in an Allen County courtroom Thursday at a motion hearing trying to get his statements tossed. Stiles’ attorney, Bob Grzybowski, questioned a deputy and two investigators who interviewed Stiles over the death of Mia Jorris.

Grzybowski focused on whether Stiles’ constitutional right to an attorney was violated. If it was, any statement he made could be tossed from evidence.

At issue was whether Stiles evoked his right to an attorney. Sheriff Investigator Mark Murphy, who twice interviewed Stiles, said Stiles asked for an attorney during the second interview at the Sheriff’s Office.

At that point, Murphy ended the interview and Maj. Sam Crish walked into the room. Stiles told Crish he wanted to talk to him and waived his constitutional rights, Crish said.

Crish interviewed Stiles three times. Each interview lasted less than two hours, he said.

Allen County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Reed said he would rule on whether Stiles’ statements are allowed after he receives written briefs from attorneys. Reed also wants to listen to parts of audio tapes from Crish’s interview with Stiles. Murphy’s interviews were not recorded.

Stiles also waived his right to a speedy trial and a new trial date of Sept. 25 was set.

The mother of the children, Kristen Jorris, also is charged with murder in the death of her daughter for allegedly not taking action to stop the abuse. She was in court earlier in the day waiving her right to a speedy trial. Jorris is scheduled to go to trial Sept. 10.

Stiles was living with Jorris, who was his girlfriend at the time of the alleged crime.

deb · Joined: 03 Oct 2006 Posts: 113

No matter if statements get tossed or not, hopefully the truth will prevail for justice for Mia ( gone yet not forgot ) and Matthew, his little life has been torn apart. Both Stiles and Jorris waved rights to speedy trial ?? I just pray enough evidence is in this case to convict the quilty person or person's who did the un-thinkable act of taking little Mia's life and harming little Matthew and forever changing his life.

Admin · Site Admin Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 2711

Judge allows Stiles' statements in 2-year-old's death

Greg Sowinski
The Lima News
June 14, 2007

LIMA - Whatever Daniel Stiles told investigators during five interrogations can be used against him, a judge has ruled.

Judge Jeffrey Reed ruled Tuesday that Stiles voluntarily agreed to talk to sheriff investigators concerning the death of 2-year-old MiaJorris and the injuries to her 3-year-old brother, Matthew Jorris .

Stiles had fought to keep the statements out, saying deputies violated his constitutional rights. His attorneys said he requested an attorney during an interrogation, but investigators did not get him an attorney and continued to interview him.

Stiles is charged with murder, attempted murder and four counts of felonious assault over the death of the girl and injuries to her brother March 23 inside an apartment at 365 S. Stevick Road.

During Stiles' second interview, he told Investigator Mark Murphy he wanted a lawyer. Moments later, Maj. Sam Crish walked into the room. Stiles then said he wanted to talk to Crish and agreed to waive his constitutional rights, including having an attorney present during the interview.

Interviews by Crish are recorded on audiotape, but interviews by Murphy are not, according to testimony.

The mother of the two children, Kristen Jorris , also is charged with murder in the death of her daughter for allegedly not taking action to stop the abuse.

Admin · Site Admin Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 2711

Abuse against murdered 2-year-old surfaced six months before her death

Greg Sowinski
The Lima News
August 8, 2007

LIMA - Allegations of abuse against a 2-year-old girl were reported six months before her murder earlier this year, according to court records.

Allen County Children Services opened a file into allegations of abuse against MiaJorris and her 3-year-old brother, Matthew Jorris , in September. A case manager attempted to contact Daniel Stiles, who is charged in her murder, but was unable in late October and early November, according to records filed in Allen County Common Pleas Court.

Stiles, 29, is charged with murder, attempted murder, and four counts of felonious assault in the death of the girl and the injuries to her brother inside an apartment at 365 S. Stevick Road on March 23. The children's mother, Kristen Jorris , also is charged with murder for not taking steps to stop the abuse.

One record dated Jan. 29, reported that Jorris and Stiles continued to say, "This is all an accident."

" Mia is supposed to be bitten by Matt all over her face, legs, arms and hands. Yet, the two black eyes and bump on her forehead are from Dan accidentally hitting her in the head with the door. There are a lot of accidents," the report said.

Jorris told an investigator she didn't think anything about her daughter having the marks and later said she knew nothing about the injuries until police were called to her home, according to records.

Another report from that date said Stiles baby-sat Jorris ' children while she was at work. In the previous three months before that report, Matthew had a broken leg and Mia had bruises all over her body in different stages of healing.

"Dan blames this on being just children and would never hurt the children," the report said.

The Children Services employee who authored the reports was not identified.

Children Services Executive Director Scott Ferris declined Tuesday to discuss the cases citing pending criminal charges. He also declined to say whether anyone at his agency had been disciplined as a result of the case.

When asked if there had been changes in policies as a result of the Jorris case, Ferris said, "I can't say anything has changed as a result of one specific case." He did say Children Services has an ongoing quality improvement program and does review policies and procedures.

Also on Jan. 29, Stiles and Jorris were asked about substance abuse. The report said Stiles had substantial incapacity because of substance abuse/addiction.

Stiles told the investigator he drinks beer and has been dealing with a crack cocaine addiction for 15 years. Stiles also was charged for drunken driving in October 2004 and January 2005, and was charged with driving under suspension in July 2003, according to records.

"Dan leaves for a couple of days and 'does his thing' then comes back," the report said.

Jorris told the investigator she drinks a couple of glasses of wine but no more than that. She said she had tried marijuana but not recently. She said she smoked cigarettes.

Stiles said he was raised by his mother and his father died when he was young. He said he had four stepfathers but had blocked them out.

Stiles said he was abused as a child and left home at the age of 15 because of the abuse. He said his mother was a dancer, and he and his two siblings were left to fend for themselves since he was 7, according to records.

In a report dated April 3, less than two weeks after Mia was killed, Jorris denied any history of abuse or neglect as a child. She said she rarely was disciplined as a child and was raised by both her parents, according to records.

In that same report, Stiles said as a child he was hit with things such as a spatula, high heels or anything that was readily available.

Both denied being sexually abused as children, the report said.

Admin · Site Admin Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 2711

Jorris murder trial postponed

Greg Sowinski
The Lima News
August 31, 2007

LIMA - Judge Richard Warren wasn't too happy when a defense attorney asked him Thursday to delay a murder trial scheduled to begin in less than two weeks.

Defense attorney Andy King asked the judge Thursday for more time so he could have a medical doctor, Nazih Dabis, of Celina, review records. Dabis is expected to be a chief defense witness King said could potentially exonerate his client, Kristen Jorris .

"To come in now and say I want someone to look at records. This puts the court in a bad position. What if I don't grant it?" Warren said. "Subpoenas are on, my schedule has been set. Now you want to continue it?"

Jorris , 33, is charged with murder in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, MiaJorris . She is accused of not taking action to stop her boyfriend, Daniel Stiles, from assaulting her daughter and her son, who also was injured. Stiles also is charged with murder.

Warren agreed to continue the trial, which was scheduled for Sept. 10. He told Jorris her case may not be tried until early next year.

"It's no wonder the public gets upset and wonders about the judicial and the legal system," he said.

The judge set another pretrial for Oct. 19.

Warren has approved $3,000 for Dabis.

MiaJorris was killed March 23 in an apartment at 365 S. Stevick Road. The young girl died of internal injuries from blunt-force trauma to her stomach. Her brother had similar injuries but survived.

Jorris also faces two counts of permitting child abuse.

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Accused Lima killer writes Richey

Greg Sowinski
The Lima News
November 17, 2007

OTTAWA - Like Kenneth Richey, Daniel Stiles is accused of killing a 2-year-old girl.

Richey is accused of starting a fatal fire that killed a girl and Stiles is accused of beating a girl to death.

That similarity, and perhaps a need for someone to talk to, may be the reason Stiles recently wrote Richey, who is in the Putnam County jail. Stiles is in the Allen County jail.

The 29-year-old Stiles wrote he did not kill 2-year-old MiaJorris . Instead, she received her injuries when a television set fell off a dresser on top of her, Richey read from Stiles' letter.

Mia died March 23 and her brother was severely injured but survived during the incident in an apartment at 365 S. Stevick Road. The children's mother, Kristen Jorris , also faces murder and other charges for not taking steps to protect her children.

Richey, who is facing a new trial for the 1986 fire death of 2-year-old Cynthia Collins in a Columbus Grove apartment fire, said he has no intention of writing back.

"I don't know what the hell he wrote for," Richey said.

In an interview with The Lima News, Richey read the letter over the phone from his jail cell in Ottawa.

Stiles told Richey how the dresser tipped and the television fell onto Jorris . He then described the moments that followed.

"The TV fell on her causing the internal injuries leading to her death. Here is the kicker. Kristen was at work, not even there, yet she is charged. I tried several times to tell detectives about the incident and he refused to believe me and said I was lying," Richey read from the letter.

The detective's reluctance to believe Stiles stems from Mia 's 3-year-old brother, Matthew Jorris , having similar injuries, Stiles wrote, while explaining how Matthew was injured.

"While giving CPR to Mia , the brother, Matt, was standing over us and I swung my arm in a sweeping motion to move him out of the way while we left him with the neighbor to attend to Mia ," Richey read.

Stiles wrote he was not aware Matthew was injured.

"At the ER, before we left, I asked Matt if he was OK. He said, 'Yes,' so I didn't think he was hurt. Children Services took him into foster care that day and we assumed it was because of Mia passing. He was throwing up and had to have surgery to stitch up part of his colon," Richey read.

Richey said he didn't believe Stiles. He said the story doesn't add up.

"I was incline to think maybe the guy is innocent, maybe there is something, but when I got to that part where … a sweeping motion, I'm sorry, man, that … don't happen," he said.

Admin · Site Admin Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 2711

Stopping a tragedy

Diane Pacetti
The Lima News
Mar. 7th, 2008

Such a beautiful little girl.

She stares out of the photo, published Friday in The Lima News, her dark eyes penetrating my heart. I imagine I see pain in those eyes, or perhaps resignation. Her arm is wrapped around a sippy cup as the photographer records the bruises on her face.

She is 2.

Correction. She was 2, and she was beautiful.

She was a precious gift.

Now, she’s just dead. Dead, it appears, at the hands of mommy’s boyfriend. Someone who was left to watch the little one and her brother. Some kind of caretaker, huh? I don’t advocate leaving kids by themselves, but in this case, they might have been safer.

Then, maybe, Mia’s life wouldn’t have been quite so brief or painful.

Daniel Stiles — otherwise known as “mommy’s boyfriend” — was on trial this week in Allen County on charges of murder, attempted murder and four counts of felonious assault. (See page A1.) The charges stemmed from the March 23 death of Mia Jorris and injuries inflicted on her 3-year-old brother, Matthew Jorris.

The children’s mother — Kristen Jorris — faces a murder trial in April.

The highlight of the Stiles trial was an audiotape in which the defendant confessed to punching Mia in the stomach two to three times. Matthew came in for the same treatment.

Stiles’ excuse?

“It was an accident. I just lost it. I was changing her diaper. She was kicking me.” And, he said, “She wouldn’t stop crying.” Matthew also started crying, so he got it too.

“They cry all the time,” Stiles said. “I just couldn’t take it. I just snapped.”

I’m curious. Which came first? The crying or the punching? The fear of being smacked around or the act of being smacked around? Isn’t a child who’s been hit once likely to fear being hit again? And isn’t that child likely to cry as a result of the fear?

Perhaps Mr. Stiles created the very scenario that drove him nuts: Two crying children.

But even if the kids did just cry all the time, that’s what kids do. They can be frustrating, irritating, maddening and annoying. They can push you to your breaking point, and maybe you do want to put your fist through something now and then.

I can’t even stand to be in a restaurant with a screaming kid, so I multiply that times 24 hours a day and, I get it. I get that you might want to hit something. If so, try a punching bag — not the kid.

It’s completely shocking to me that an adult with, supposedly, an adult brain would punch a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old the way you might pummel some jackass buddy in a bar in the wee hours. But to direct such brutish, vile behavior toward a 30-pound child is inexcusable.

Don’t say you just lost it, and don’t say you didn’t mean to hurt anybody. Unless you’re a moron, you know the likely result of a beating. That’s the difference between an adult and a child — the application of logic and the consideration of consequences. We expect adult behavior from an adult; we just didn’t get it here. Now it’s time to pay for Mia and Matthew.

If only we could have stopped the abuse before this little girl’s death …

I would like to believe that Mia’s death could have been prevented somehow, that someone just didn’t do their job properly. Well, what are my options? Who might have come between Stiles and these children? I could blame Mommy Dearest or I could blame Children Services. Possibly both.

Certainly, a mother is responsible for keeping her children safe. Based on the charges filed against Kristen Jorris, she knew about the child abuse and did nothing to prevent it. Please don’t tell me a boyfriend — any boyfriend — is more important than your own babies.

I applaud those sitters and day-care workers who did take action. Several of them contacted Children Services on Mia’s behalf. They did the right thing. Whether Children Services did the right thing is another question, one that I can’t answer. Agency response seemed slow to me, but then I don’t know how much red tape is involved in removing a child from an abusive home.

The role of Children Services in this case needs to be examined more carefully. How is it that a child died before this agency could take action to prevent it? That is not, nor can it ever be, an acceptable result.

The story of Mia Jorris’ short and tortured life is heartbreaking.

Such a beautiful little girl. Such a precious gift.