NEWTON, Kan. – A 43-year-old has been arrested in association with the death of a child who was found not breathing in Burrton back on May 30.
Rob Heironimus was arrested by the Harvey County Sheriff’s office on a charge of aggravated child endangerment as a result of the investigation into the death of his 8-month-old son, Matthew Heironimus.
The child had been transported to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita and placed on a ventilator. Tests at the hospital revealed no brain activity. The ventilator was removed on June 4, and the child died shortly after.
The cause of death was listed as suffocation. Rob Heironimus had placed the boy on a leather type couch and went outside the house to work on a motorcycle. He told his 8-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter to watch the infant. The children left the house and went outside. Heironimus told the children to get back into the house. When they did, the 8-year-old the eight month old noticed his brother was face down between the back of the couch and the cushion and apparently had become stuck. The older child says he was unable dislodge his baby brother from the couch. He called for his father to help. Heironimus came into the house, called 911 and began CPR.
Investigators noted there was a play pen in the living room which would have been the proper place to put Matthew instead of the leather type couch. A lack of adult supervision added to the tragedy of this case. The condition of the home was deplorable according to officials. The 8- year-old boy and the 5-year-old girl were placed with the maternal grandparents. The Department of Children and Families is working with the family, the home is being cleaned and repaired to bring back to a livable and safe environment.
Rob Heironimus was able to bond out of the Harvey County Detention Center. Formal charges will be made through the Harvey County Attorney’s Office.
You may recall that he had been found guilty of leaving the scene of an injury accident here in Hutchinson which is a felony because of injuries occurring. Other charges include failing to report an accident, driving while suspended, failing to give information and having an illegal tag
It was back on May 12, 2012 when Heironimus was riding his Silver Honda VTX 1100 CC, and struck 26-year-old Jeffrey Nusser as he attempted to cross Main at 19th in Hutchinson. Nusser was taken by air-ambulance to Via-Cristi St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Wichita for trauma to his right leg resulting in it being amputated below the knee.
He was granted 18-months probation in the case on a 24-month underlying sentence. This new arrest would be a violation of that probation.