Dad accused of leaving dead infant in crib found fit for trial

Eric Warfel, whose 20-month-old daughter’s body was found decomposed in her crib in July, has been found competent to stand trial after a psychological evaluation.

Eric Warfel and his attorney, Michael O’Shea, listen to proceedings Monday in Medina County Common Pleas Court. NICK GLUNT/CHRONICLE

Warfel, 34, of Medina, was scheduled to begin a trial by jury Monday. After receiving the results of Warfel’s evaluation, however, his attorney asked the court to delay the trial. Warfel now is scheduled for trial in January.

Warfel faces charges of gross corpse abuse, evidence tampering, cocaine possession and three counts of child endangering. He had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, which would have put Warfel in a mental institution instead of prison. But the evaluation by an Akron Psycho-Diagnostic Clinic psychiatrist means he’ll go to trial and face possible prison time instead.

Warfel is accused by police and prosecutors of failing to contact police or medical professionals after he found his 20-month-old daughter, Ember, dead in her crib in mid-June. Her body was discovered “badly decomposed” in a Forest Meadows Apartment Homes unit on July 29, police said.

Ember Warfel

Police said Warfel had been living in a motel in Middleburg Heights when his daughter’s body was discovered. Warfel was arrested later that day at Crocker Park Shopping Center in Westlake, where he was shopping with another daughter.

Ember Warfel’s body was transferred to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office, which has not yet ruled on the girl’s cause of death. Prosecutors have said Warfel could face additional charges based on the results of the girl’s autopsy.

In court Monday, Warfel’s attorney, Michael O’Shea, asked the judge to re-examine Warfel’s $1 million bond, which has kept him at the county jail pending court proceedings.

Medina County Common Pleas Judge Christopher J. Collier said he would rule on the bond issue Friday. He asked O’Shea and county Prosecutor Dean Holman to submit written arguments on the issue no later than Thursday.

Another of Warfel’s children, Erin, 5 months old, was found dead in March 2013. Her death was ruled “sudden unexplained infant death, sustained in a manner undetermined,” and no charges were filed.

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