Boyfriend Indicted For Death Of Toddler

Posted on 11/19/2010

Defendant: Bryan M. Johnson

Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned a five count indictment on Bryan M. Johnson in connection to the November 7, 2010 death of 22 month old London Hodge. Johnson was the 19 year old boyfriend to Natasha Steele, age 21, who is the infant’s biological mother. Johnson has been indicted for one count of Murder (F-1), one count of Involuntary Manslaughter (F-1), one count of Felonious Assault (F-2), one count of Endangering Children (F-2), and one count of Endangering Children (F-3), for a total of five counts.

Johnson was babysitting London while his girlfriend was at work and alleged that the baby was dropped, vomited shortly thereafter, and later stopped breathing. Emergency personnel received a 911 call from Johnson and arrived at the Whitehall town house shortly after 7 p.m. on November 6^th. London was taken to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where she died the following morning. She had suffered severe head trauma. Arraignment will be set for November 19, 2010, at 1:30 pm in courtroom 1A.