An Ohio woman was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after fifteen years for killing her then-girlfriend’s child, Matonio. The defendant, J. Loewe, 34, was sentenced on June 5, 2025, after pleading guilty to charges of murder and gross mistreatment of a corpse. Several other counts were dropped as part of a plea agreement, including endangering children, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence.
The boy, aged eight, was reported missing by his parent, Lasanda, in June of last year. She told Ohio authorities that she last saw him the night before, when she put him to bed. After a search, authorities found the victim’s body in a bag in the Ohio house’s attic about six hours later. The discovery sparked an Amber Alert for the victim’s two siblings, who were eventually discovered safe with a family member.
An autopsy found that the child died of suffocation caused by neck compression. Additionally, he was very malnourished and dehydrated at the time of his death, weighing only 35 pounds. The examination also revealed symptoms of blunt force injuries, such as numerous bruises and cuts on his face and head.
Witnesses and family members said that the youngster was subjected to unusual and harsh punishments, such as being forced to carry a weighted ball while walking up and down stairs naked and being denied nourishment. These accounts were corroborated during the inquiry and aided in the prosecution of the offender.
The 34-year-old lady surrendered to police a few days later and was detained in county jail on a $1.25 million bond. She was first accused of murder, endangering children, felonious assault, tampering with evidence, and abusing a corpse. Following her guilty plea, she was sentenced to life in prison with the option of parole after fifteen years.
The victim’s mother is facing similar accusations and is set to appear in court on July 15, 2025.
The case has had a significant impact on the Ohio community, raising awareness about child abuse and the significance of attentive child care measures. The victim’s terrible demise has sparked calls for greater awareness and action to protect vulnerable children.
