Scott Jurewicz: Charged With Murder Of Ex-Girlfriend’s Baby, Suspect In A Second Baby’s Death [Video]
Scott Jurewicz, 27, of Jackson, Michigan, has been charged with felony murder and first degree child abuse in the suspicious death of his former girlfriend’s 18-month-old son Brenden Hartranft. Brenden died in the hospital after sustaining head and neck injuries which Jurewicz is accused of causing. Jurewicz was arraigned Tuesday in Judge Mazur’s courtroom after being arrested on Friday night, according to WILX News. Jackson County District Court Judge Daryl Mazur denied bond to Jurewicz. Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kati Rezmierski called Hartranft’s death violent and brutal when she requested that Jurewicz’ bond be denied.
“We are asking that you keep him locked up, and if you don’t deny bond at least set it high enough that we can ensure the safety of the children in this community,” Rezmierski said.
Scott suggested that he was of no risk to the community given that he has been fathering his own nine-year-old son without incident, but the judge ultimately disagreed and retained him.
Scott Jurewicz was dating Brooke Hartranft, the toddler’s mother, at the time of his death. Brenden died on March 17 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at the U of M Medical Center, and according to the Department of Human Services, the toddler suffered from a “diffuse anoxic brain injury.” Brenden had no brain activity, according to C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital’s Dr. Lisa Markman.
A Jackson County man is charged today with the murder of an 18-month-old toddler last March. http://t.co/kn0AdIKue1 pic.twitter.com/Edmub1dLWY
— WLNS Newsroom (@WLNS) May 26, 2015
Jurewicz has already pleaded guilty of misdemeanor stalking after being originally charged with felony aggravated stalking. The victim of his stalking was Brenden’s mother Brooke. Additionally, according to WILX News, Scott is allegedly also under investigation for possible involvement in the death of another toddler, a 21-month old Summit Township boy who died last week.
“Jurewicz is also a suspect in the suspicious death of a 21-month-old that occurred on last Thursday, May 21. There have been no criminal charges filed in that case at this time.”
A suspicious death occurred in Summit Twp of a 21 mo. old yesterday morning. If you have information contact the Jackson Sheriff’s Office. — Genna Hilgenbrink (@WLNSGenna) May 22, 2015
Jackson County Undersheriff Chris Kuhl said that in the case of the 21-month-old child, medics were unable to revive the baby, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a separate MLIVE report. Kuhl said that the Summit Township boy’s death was also suspicious.
The name of the second baby is not being released at this time, according to an MLIVE report which did not specify directly that Scott was a suspect in last week’s death, but did mention the case in an article about Scott Jurewicz’ current charges.
[Photo via WILX]
