A Burrton man was arrested Thursday in a case involving the death of his 8-month-old son, the Harvey County Sheriff’s Office said.
Rob Heironimus, 43, was arrested by sheriff’s deputies on suspicion of aggravated child endangerment. He posted a $4,000 bond and was released from the Harvey County Jail.
The arrest came after an investigation into the death of Matthew Heironimus. Emergency crews found the boy not breathing on May 30 at the family’s home.
He was taken to Wichita’s Wesley Medical Center where tests showed no brain activity, a news release from the Sheriff’s Office said. He died June 4 after being taken off life support.
Suffocation was listed as the cause of death, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The office gave this account of events:
Rob Heironimus had placed Matthew on a couch and went outside to work on a motorcycle. He told his 8-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter to watch Matthew, but the children also went outside.
The father told the 8-year-old and 5-year-old to go back in the house. When they did, the 8-year-old noticed Matthew was stuck face down between the back of the couch and the cushion.
The 8-year-old told authorities he couldn’t free Matthew and called for his father.
Rob Heironimus called 911 and started CPR.
Investigators said there was a playpen in the living room that wasn’t used. The home was found to be in poor condition.
The 8-year-old and 5-year-old have been placed with maternal grandparents. The Kansas Department for Children and Families is working with the family.
The mother was at work at the time of the incident, a Harvey County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman said.
