Father Arrested for Keeping Baby in Hotel Room with Deceased Mother
In an alarming incident, a Cincinnati man has been arrested for allegedly keeping his 7-month-old daughter in a hotel room with the lifeless body of her mother, all while failing to report the tragic death. According to reports from FOX 8 in Ohio, 32-year-old Troy Mahaffey, a resident of the College Hill neighborhood in Cincinnati, is facing charges of child endangerment and neglecting to report a death.
The incident unfolded at the Days Inn & Suites on Lebanon Road in Sharonville on August 2. Police had responded to conduct a welfare check, and upon their arrival, they discovered Mahaffey’s girlfriend, 34-year-old Geri Mays, unresponsive on a bed.
Mahaffey’s behavior caught the attention of the officers, as he appeared surprised to see them. When the officers inquired about Mays and Mahaffey, he responded, “That’s what we just called for.” Mahaffey told the police that Mays was unconscious, but court records later revealed that she had likely succumbed to an overdose.
First responders pronounced Mays deceased and noted that she had already entered a state of rigor mortis with lividity present, suggesting she had passed away several hours prior to the police’s arrival.
Detectives at the scene uncovered that Mahaffey was suspected of being involved in drug dealing and had sold drugs to a man and a woman who were in the hotel room with him, Mays, and their infant daughter. Shockingly, everyone except Mahaffey had used crack cocaine in the room the night before, while Mahaffey himself had smoked marijuana. This drug use occurred with the child present.
During interviews with the individuals who were in the room, they revealed that they had arrived at the hotel the previous night and used crack cocaine with Mays. Police learned that Mays had been awake at 5 a.m. that morning, complained of chest pain, but declined an offer for an ambulance.
A quarter of an hour before the police arrived, the man and woman in the room had been awoken by Mahaffey. Although they were unaware of Mays’ passing, they sensed something was amiss due to Mahaffey’s peculiar behavior.
Sharonville police took Mahaffey into custody and transported him to the police headquarters for questioning. The baby was examined by paramedics, later being released to the Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services.
The two individuals in the room were arrested on existing warrants. The scene was subsequently handed over to the heroin task force, where investigators found suspicious white powder believed to be heroin on the bathroom sink. Additionally, more drugs and paraphernalia, including a baggie of white powder suspected to be heroin and Xanax pills, were discovered.
This deeply distressing incident continues to unfold, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of children in such distressing circumstances.