Negley man pleads not guilty in child’s death

LISBON -- A Negley man charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering children for allegedly causing the death of a 2-year-old child in December 2024 entered a not guilty plea Thursday.

Seth T. Hildebrand, 20, last known address Southern Street, appeared for arraignment before Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton accompanied by his defense attorney Ron Yarwood.

His posted bond of $200,000 cash or surety was continued.

Bickerton set a pretrial hearing at 1 p.m. Aug. 14.

According to the indictment, on Dec. 30, 2024-Dec. 31, 2024, Hildebrand did cause the death of the child born in February 2022 as a result of committing or attempting to cause endangering children. The indictment only lists the child's initials, A.D., and date of birth.

Columbiana County Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino previously said by law, his office can't disclose the victim's name at this time. He said local law enforcement, in this case the county sheriff's office, received a call from UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa. regarding an injured child.

A press release from Columbiana County Sheriff Brian McLaughlin said the investigation began Dec. 31, 2024 after the call from the hospital indicating a child was there with a brain bleed and suspected to be child abuse. The 2-year-old child died Jan. 3, 2025 due to those injuries.

The investigation turned to Hildebrand, who was caring for the child at the time of the injury, the press release said. The incident occurred in Middleton Township.

Abruzzino said the cause of death according to the Office of Medical Examiner of Allegheny County in Pennsylvania was blunt force trauma.

The maximum possible penalty Hildebrand could face includes 11 years for the involuntary manslaughter and three years for the endangering children for a possible total of 14 years, Abruzzino said.

mgreier@mojonews.com