Dayton 2-month-old’s death ruled homicide by coroner’s office

MONTGOMERY COUNTY — The death of a 2-month old earlier this month has been ruled a homicide by the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office.

Gabriel Clouse, of Dayton, was pronounced dead at Dayton Children’s Hospital on Feb. 5 after being taken there from a Wyoming Street home.

Montgomery County Coroner Kent Harshbarger said he died from blunt force injuries.

Dayton police responded to Clouse’s Wyoming Street residence on Feb. 2 for a child endangering case.

Lt. Jason Hall said officers responded to the house after Clouse was in distress.

“My baby’s not breathing. Please, I need someone now,” a 911 caller told dispatchers.  “He threw up. I think he got some milk in his lungs or something.”

The Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office has not approved any charges in connection to the infant’s death.

“Our office was made aware of the case, however, it is being actively investigated by law enforcement,” said Greg Flannagan, spokesman for the prosecutor’s office.  “(Police) have not brought the investigation to our office seeking any charges.”

Due to the circumstances of the injuries and death, the Dayton Police Special Victim’s Unit is investigating the case.

The death is being learned of a day after Governor Mike DeWine called for a review of Montgomery County Children’s Services after his office was notified of an infant death Wednesday.

Kevin Lavoie, spokesman for Montgomery County Children’s Services, said the agency opened up an investigation involving Clouse when he was taken to the hospital.  Lavoie could not share any additional information on the case

The state would have been advised of Clouse’s death through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services confidential child services information system, called SACWIS, officials said.

Records from that system are not considered public records, Lavoie said.