Verdict in death of 8-year-old expected Monday

Boy suffered head injury, doctors testify

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

When JonMarquis Stepich’s mom and brother left their North Braddock home about 1 a.m. on June 20, 2016, the 8-year-old boy was fine.

He was tired, said assistant district attorney Alicia Werner. But he was fine.

When the two returned about two hours later, Ms. Werner told Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Donna Jo McDaniel during closing arguments Thursday, JonMarquis was dying.

Orlando Williams, the man engaged to the boy’s mother, was the only adult home with him during those two hours.

“He had the opportunity and exclusive custody over the victim in this case,” said Ms. Werner, who believes Williams is guilty.

Judge McDaniel said she will render her verdict on Monday.

Two physicians testified during Williams’ nonjury trial that JonMarquis sustained a severe blow to the head that caused bleeding on his brain. He was taken to a hospital about 6 a.m. that day and died three days later.

The doctors both said that JonMarquis would have immediately been symptomatic, including vomiting, lethargy, a loss of consciousness and difficulty breathing. There was testimony at trial that vomit was found in the boy’s bedroom, and his brother and mother heard him snoring loudly when they returned home.

In an interview with police, Williams said that he was mad at JonMarquis for not cleaning his room, and that he slammed the boy down on his bed.

Later, he told police, he threw water on the boy to try to get him to wake up, which did not work.

During her closing, Ms. Werner