Man Accused Of Raping Toddler Attacked In Jail
Bond Set For Boyfriend Of Child's Mother
POSTED: 10:48 am EDT July 20, 2006
UPDATED: 6:58 pm EDT July 20, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A man accused of raping a 17-month-old boy was attacked in jail after being charged with murder Thursday morning, according to officials.
A judge set bond for John White at $5.5 million on an aggravated murder charge, NBC 4's Kyle Anderson reported. White, 35, was also being held on $650,000 bond on the rape charge.
The child, Jaydon Hilleary, was pronounced dead at Children's Hospital on Tuesday night, NBC 4 reported.
White, 35, is the boyfriend of Jaydon's mother.
White remains in protective custody after being attacked in jail, officials said.
According to a handwritten report, White said, "I was lying on my bunk when another inmate walked up next to me and started to assault me and then others joined in as well. I shielded my face and waited."
Late Thursday afternoon, jail officials said White was placed on suicide watch after trying to take his own life, NBC 4's Nancy Burton reported.
Upper Arlington medics received a call Tuesday evening about a child not breathing at the Weybridge Road apartment, located near Henderson and Kenny roads.
"There were signs of a sexual assault that also took place," said Columbus police Sgt. Mike Woods. "We brought detectives in immediately and began an investigation from that."
The Franklin County Coroner's Office said that Jaydon died of asphyxiation, Anderson reported.
A relative of the boy's mother told NBC 4 that the mother was sleeping while White allegedly raped the child.
White and the victim's mother, Billie Hilleary, worked overnight at a Wal-Mart on the city's west side. They would take turns sleeping while the other watched the child.
Billie Hilleary said White woke her up by saying he was sorry.
"He told me he fell asleep on the couch with Jaydon and he woke up and Jaydon was not breathing and his head was pushed down in the cushions," Billie Hilleary said.
According to a search warrant, White told police that when he woke up from a nap, the boy's head had either become stuck or wedged underneath a pillow on the couch.
The boy suffocated because his face was being held against a pillow, the relative said.
"Jaydon's down there limp (with) his eyes rolled back in his head, not breathing. And the ambulance comes and they're trying to do CPR on him and it's not working," Billie Hilleary said.
White was taken into custody at the hospital and was questioned before police filed the rape charge, Anderson reported.
"They told me that they suspected someone was sexually molesting him and they left the room, did more questioning with John, and then before they left, they came in and told me he admitted to what he did," Billie Hilleary said. "It's painful. I wish I would have died instead of him. I really wish it were me instead. He didn't get to live his life."
Officials said that DNA was collected from White along with fingernail scrapings.
Jaydon's father lives in the Newark area, Anderson reported.
"I want (White) to get the death penalty for what he did," Billie Hilleary said n Wednesday.
Detectives said they are confident that the boy's mother did not know about the alleged sexual abuse.
The boy's father spoke with NBC 4 during a telephone interview on Thursday.
"I can't find the words," said Daniel Hoburg, the victim's father. " I just miss him and wish he was here. He was an adorable little boy, and he was always happy when he was here."
During the interview, Hoburg said he noticed changes in his son awhile ago.
"I did notice some changes in his weight. He was skittish around grown men besides me. He was fine with me," he said. "We tried several times to call (Franklin County) Children Services, and they just said we needed more proof. We needed pictures."
If convicted, White could be sentenced to death.
http://www.nbc4i.com/news/9548079/detail.html#
predator after being beaten in jail:
victim:
*great. this scum lives near me..and he works at the Walmart near me..what a surprise..why don't they let him go ahead and commit suicide?*