Miami Standard (Akron, OH) – An Ohio man, aged 23, has been arrested following accusations of subjecting a 12-year-old boy, whom he was babysitting, to ice baths as punishment.

This cruel treatment reportedly caused the boy’s body temperature to plummet to 74 degrees, ultimately resulting in his tragic death.

Anthony J. McCants faces serious allegations related to the tragic death of Jadako Taylor, according to court documents. A press release indicates that the Akron Police Department and the Summit County Medical Examiner responded to a 911 call at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, originating from a residence in the 100 block of South Balch Street.

“What’s going on there, sir,” the dispatcher asked, according to a 911 call obtained by Cleveland CBS affiliate WOIO.

A man on the other line responded: “Uh, my little brother … bust his head.”

The caller reported that the boy seemed to be alive.

Upon arrival, first responders discovered Jadako unresponsive and not breathing. Emergency responders quickly transported him to a pediatric hospital, where medical staff declared him deceased shortly after arrival. Authorities took McCants into custody on the same day amid suspicions of potential wrongdoing.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by WOIO, McCants made the boy endure two ice baths, totaling 45 minutes. During the breaks between baths, McCants reportedly had the boy perform pushups and engage in other intense physical activities. At one point, Jadako was said to have started vomiting and experiencing seizures. An autopsy was conducted by the medical examiner on Monday to establish the cause and manner of death.

According to the Mayo Clinic, hypothermia occurs when the body temperature falls below 95 degrees, and reports indicate that Jadako’s temperature was recorded at 74 degrees. The average body temperature typically hovers around 98.6 degrees.

“When body temperature drops, the heart, nervous system and other organs can’t work as well as they usually do,” the clinic says. “Left untreated, hypothermia can cause the heart and respiratory system to fail and eventually can lead to death.”

According to the complaint, McCants was familiar to the family and held responsibility for Jadako’s care at the time of his passing.

McCants is presently held at the Summit County Jail with a bond set at $500,000.

Prosecutors are set to bring the case before a grand jury to decide on the next steps. A status hearing is scheduled for May 16.

Source: 12-year-old boy dies with body temperature of just 74 degrees after babysitter forces him to sit in ice baths as form of punishment: Cops