Brian Steinmiller

The Wood County prosecutor’s office said this afternoon that Brian Steinmiller, Bowling Green, has been arrested on a charge of murder in the death of his 3-month-old son, Carter Steinmiller. In addition to the murder charge, the father also was charged with child endangerment.
The murder charge is a special felony, subject to up to 15 years to life in prison.
The infant’s May death was ruled a homicide last week by the Wood County Coroner’s Office. The report indicated the infant had died of “abusive head trauma.”
According to Paul Dobson, Wood County Prosecutor, “The charge is he caused the child’s death while abusing the child.”
He explained murder is an appropriate charge when committing a felony of violence. Child abuse rises to a felony level when there is physical harm.
“Death would definitely be physical harm,” Dobson said, thus making the endangerment charge a second-degree felony. “He therefore committed murder.”
Brian Steinmiller, age 31, has a video arraignment scheduled for Friday at 8:30 a.m. in Bowling Green Municipal Court.
According to Dobson, Steinmiller was arrested at his parents’ home in Toledo by officers from the Toledo Police Department. After being taken into custody, he was turned over to a Wood County Sheriff’s deputy and a detective from Dobson’s office. He is currently housed at the Wood County Justice Center.
The next session of the Wood County Grand Jury is scheduled for Wednesday and it is likely to be given to them for a formal indictment.
The infant’s mother, Rebecca Steinmiller, 25, is already facing one count of child endangerment. Her charge is related to a broken arm found during an examination following the baby’s death. She had reportedly failed to seek treatment for the child for approximately four days, despite her knowledge of the injury.
She is free on bond and is due in court on that charge July 17. Dobson indicated there are no additional charges being filed on her.