Ohio man sentenced to life without parole for killing 2-year-old daughter

TIFFIN, Ohio — A 24-year-old Ohio man will spend the rest of his life in prison for the abduction and fatal shooting of his 2-year-old daughter last year, a judge ruled on Monday. Jonathan Baker was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole by Seneca County Common Pleas Court Judge Damon Alt, following a conviction on charges of aggravated murder with a firearm specification and kidnapping.

The sentencing came after a jury found Baker guilty earlier this month for the 2023 killing of his daughter, Emery. Prosecutors said Baker abducted the toddler from her mother, fatally shot her twice in the head, and led police on a high-speed chase while the child’s body was still in the vehicle. In addition to the life sentence, Baker received an additional 16 1/2 years for the kidnapping charge and three years for the firearms specification.

During the sentencing hearing, Baker expressed regret, describing his actions as “completely evil” and saying that he believed he was “doing something good” at the time. He attributed the crime to a lack of faith and mental illness, asking the judge to “please have mercy.”

Judge Alt, however, dismissed Baker’s claims of remorse, emphasizing the gravity of the crime. “Mr. Baker, you murdered your daughter … throughout the day you were afforded every opportunity to prevent that crime from happening,” Alt said, calling it a “senseless act” and underscoring the apparent lack of genuine remorse shown by Baker.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.