A Cleveland man faces felony charges after allegedly forcing a 12-year-old boy into ice baths and strenuous exercise as a form of “corporal punishment” before the child’s death.
Anthony McCants, 23, was arrested last Saturday and charged with felony child endangering in connection with the death of Jadako Taylor in Akron. Police responded to a home following reports of cardiac arrest and found the boy unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
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A criminal complaint alleges McCants, who was caring for Taylor, forced the boy to endure two ice baths between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m. The first lasted 45 minutes, with breaks for push-ups and other physical exertion, while the second lasted 30 minutes, according to KKTV.
“These incidents were used as corporal punishment,” the complaint stated. At the time of death, the boy’s body temperature was 74°F—far below the 95°F threshold for hypothermia.
The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy, but the cause of death remains pending. “Possible foul play is suspected,” officials said.
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McCants’ relationship to Taylor was unclear, though police confirmed he was “known to the family.” Arraigned Monday in Akron Municipal Court, McCants pleaded not guilty. His bond was set at $500,000. The case continues as authorities await further medical findings.
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