Community Corner
Butler County man in custody after child dies from drug overdose
Dorrico Dewaun Brown is jailed in Butler County Jail charged with with endangering children and involuntary manslaughter
BY MOLLY NICHOLAS
Miami University journalism student
The 33-year-old man charged in the death of his child after authorities found the child had ingested drugs is expected to plead not guilty during his Sept. 20 court appearance, a prosecutor said.
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A Nov. 6 trial date is set for Dorrico Dawaun Brown who was charged in the death of his 1-year-old son Dorrico Dawaun Brown Jr., died on May 17. The elder Brown called 911 when he found his son unresponsive in their home on Vidourek Drive in Hamilton. He was pronounced dead at the Fort Hamilton Hospital.
Alprazolam, Oxycodone and Diphenhydramine were all found in his system, according to the Butler County's coroner's toxicology report. The report shows the child was not injured. The coroner ruled he died from a drug overdose.
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Authorities said they don't know how the child ingested toxic levels of drugs.
The autopsy report notes that the baby appeared well-nourished, clean and well-cared for prior to his death.
Will trial date change?
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kelly Heile is assigned to Brown’s case and said a new trial date in the case could be set during Brown's next court hearing.
"At this point in time, I expect he will go forward with the not guilty plea," Heile said.
Heile also said that Brown has added another attorney to the case who will be there with him for the first time at his next court date.
Jailed, awaiting trial
Brown remains jailed in lieu in the Butler County jail in lieu of $500,000 bail
He was indicted on the manslaughter charge on Aug. 16.
“It’s not uncommon for complicated criminal cases to go to the grand jury as opposed to making the arrest on the spot,” Trenton Police Sgt. Craig Flick said. “Complicated cases can go months before an arrest is made.”
While the arrest was made by Trenton police, the Hamilton Police Department is handling the investigation.
“When you have a death investigation, the victim can’t tell us what happened,” Hamilton Police Sgt. Mark Hayes said. “You have to get all your information from medical documents.”
Top Photo: Dorrico Dawaun Brown, 33, remains in custody in connection with involuntary manslaughter and endangering children -- Photo taken from Butler County Jail website.