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Partin appeared this morning in Butler County Common Pleas Court, where Judge Greg Stephens set a trial date of Oct. 2.
Partin, who is free on $75,000 bond, said nothing during the brief hearing. Defense attorney Melynda Cook Howard said she anticipated filing motions that will require a hearing. A pre-trial hearing was set for Aug. 22.
About 15 friends and family of the toddler, including her father Jason, were in court wearing bright blue “#HannahStrong” T-shirts.
Jason Wesche declined comment after the hearing. Cook Howard also declined comment.
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
The toddler suffered significant and severe bruising to her face, chest and neck on March 6 because Partin said Hannah “dumped ketchup in the toilet,” according to court documents filed by Butler County prosecutors.
Two days later, after Hannah’s father, Jason Wesche, dropped off his daughter, Partin recklessly abused the toddler resulting in traumatic brain injury, cervical spinal cord hemorrhage and optic nerve sheath hemorrhages, according to the court documents
At about 7 a.m. March 8, Hanover Twp. emergency crews and Butler County sheriff’s deputies responded to Partin’s residence for an unconscious child. They found Hannah unresponsive with labored breathing, according to the sheriff’s office.
Hannah was taken by medical helicopter to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. After further investigation, detectives and hospital personnel noted additional bruising on the child’s body. The child died in the hospital days later
In the 911 call placed to county dispatchers, Partin identified herself and said Hannah “all of a sudden she just passed out.”
Partin said she babysits kids and that Hannah had fallen the day before.
“She fell real bad yesterday … I thought she was fine,” Partin said. She told the dispatcher in the 13-minute call that Hannah’s father also is with the girl.
Jason Wesche was heard saying, “Hannah breathe. Breathe for Daddy.”
After the girl was dropped off, Partin said the toddler went in the house and “passed out.”
Partin admitted to striking the child and stated the girl had fallen and struck her head on a concrete garage floor the previous day, according to police reports.
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