Parker died Wednesday at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center after being in the hospital since Dec. 19, according to Jim Feuer, hospital spokesman.
Parker, a Fairfield High School student, was assaulted Dec. 19 at One Way Farm Children’s Home by Tiernan, of Warren County, who was originally charged with felony aggravated assault. Gmoser said an autopsy performed Thursday confirmed the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.
At a press conference Thursday, One Way Farm Development Director Jody Canupp said the staff and board of directors are “horrified” at Parker’s death.
Canupp read a letter she received from a One Way Farm contributor, who knew Parker well.
“My heart is broken,” the contributor said in the letter. “Anthony had a huge capacity for love.”
“We will be doing a moment of silence on Monday morning when the kids return from winter break,” said Gina Gentry-Fletcher, spokeswoman for the Fairfield City School District, said guidance counselors will be available for students that need that additional help.
Billy Smith, principal at Fairfield High School, said Anthony was a fan of sports, closely following the Cincinnati Bengals and Cincinnati Reds.
“In class, he really enjoyed participating; he was a pleasure to have in class and he was always willing to do anything he could to help others,” Smith said. “Anthony always smiled and seemed to be happiest when he was able to help others.”
Staff at the group home called for an ambulance around 11:30 p.m. Dec. 19 to report an unresponsive boy. The call came three hours after he had been assaulted, according to Fairfield Twp. police.
During Thursday’s press conference, Canupp said Parker was monitored after the incident, and was walking around and had made a sandwich before being found unresponsive.
Between 7:30 and 8 p.m., the 17-year-old allegedly punched the victim, throwing him to the ground — where he landed on his head — and then repeatedly punched him in the head, said Fairfield Twp. Police Chief Richard St. John, who said the assault occurred during a dispute over a flashlight each boy claimed was his.
Kathy Parker, mother of Anthony Parker, said Thursday via her Facebook page, “Thank you for everyone’s concern at this time of my loss and my family’s and thank you for the prayers as we grieve.”
Patricia Jacobs, director of Warren County Children Services, said the teen who is charged has no prior history of violence and had been at One Way Farm since the end of November.
Prior to placement, the teenager was living with his family in Warren County and had no prior involvement with children services, she said. He was the only youth at the facility placed by Warren County Children Services, though the child welfare agency has placed children at One Way Farm over the course of many years, Jacobs said.
Ten children have been removed from the home and have been temporarily placed elsewhere, which is a standard protocol, Canupp said. Eight children are still at One Way Farm.
Officials with the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services said an investigation by the agency will begin when police conclude their investigation.
The children’s home is a nonprofit organization licensed by Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services to provide residential care 365 days a year, 24 hours a day to 10 male children between the ages of 6 and 17, or if handicapped, up to age 21, through its Sunrise home at 6141 River Road.
It also has a capacity of 10 female children, ages 6 to 17, or up to 21 for handicapped clients, through its New Dawn home at 6145 River Road on its campus, documents show.
Kelsey Cano contributed to this report.
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