A grand jury in the midwestern US state of Ohio has indicted a 23-year-old man for the death of a 12-year-old boy whom he allegedly gave ice baths to as a form of punishment.
The defendant, Anthony McCants, is charged with one count of murder and eight counts of endangering children, according to Summit County Court of Common Pleas records.
Akron police previously said that, as punishment, McCants forced the boy to participate in ice baths on March 22.
The first ice bath lasted around 45 minutes, with short breaks of push-ups and other physical activity.
Then, another round in the afternoon.
After the second round of punishment, the boy began to vomit and seize, police said back in March.
That’s when someone in the house called 911, saying his 12-year-old brother needed help.
The boy was rushed to the hospital, where he died.
Court records state that his core temperature was 74 degrees Fahrenheit (23.3 degrees Celsius).
For context, doctors say that hypothermia sets in when body temperatures drop below 35 degrees Celsius.
McCants has an arraignment scheduled for May 14.
