LIMA - On the day he was supposed to make his first court appearance accused of killing a 1-year-old boy, Justin Basil learned prosecutors would seek an even higher charge that could put him in prison the rest of his life.
Basil, 30, of 8400 Faulkner Road, Harrod, was charged with aggravated murder in the March 1 death of Kadon Luke. A coroner ruled Kadon's death a homicide by child abuse, police said.
Basil was to appear at a bond hearing Friday in Lima Municipal Court but prosecutors instead took the case to the grand jury for the new charge. Basil was arrested on a murder charge.
Police have declined to discuss the facts that led to Basil's arrest Wednesday. They have said statements that first led police to believe Kadon's death was an accident did not match what the coroner found while performing the autopsy.
Emergency responders were called to Kadon's home at 519 E. Vine St. on March 1. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The incident happened in the home that day. Kadon lived in the house with his mother, Tiffany Luke. Other people were home but investigators had not determined whether those people lived there or were visiting, police said.
Investigators rely heavily on the expertise of a coroner in any death investigation which can be more difficult when the victim is a child. Kadon's death was the city's second homicide of the year.
Basil has a lengthy record at Lima Municipal Court of misdemeanor cases. He has convictions for assault, menacing, domestic violence, drunken driving, disorderly conduct and other alcohol related crimes.
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