Dylan Schumaker, the 16-year-old accused of beating to death his girlfriend’s toddler son, pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of second-degree murder and first-degree assault in Springville Village Court.
Schumaker has been charged as an adult and, as a result, his name has been released by authorities. His identity initially was withheld because of the possibility he could be granted youthful-offender status.
Following his arraignment in front of Springville Justice Kelly O’Neal Adams, Schumaker was returned to the Erie County Holding Center in downtown Buffalo, where he remains jailed without bail.
The teen is accused of repeatedly striking Austin Smith, 1, in the head. The little boy would have turned 2 today.
Schumaker allegedly attacked the child at some point while he was baby-sitting Tuesday afternoon into the evening at his parents’ Cochran Avenue home in Springville. Schumaker and Ashlee Smith, Austin’s mother, had moved there about two weeks ago.
Smith, 19, had left the boy and her 3-month-old baby in Schumaker’s care when she went to work, authorities said. She and Schumaker had been dating on and off for the last three years.
Sheriff Timothy B. Howard had said Schumaker attacked the boy because he was crying.
An autopsy determined Austin died from blunt force trauma to the head. The case against Schumaker is now expected to be presented to an Erie County grand jury for review.
email: lmichel@buffnews.com
Schumaker has been charged as an adult and, as a result, his name has been released by authorities. His identity initially was withheld because of the possibility he could be granted youthful-offender status.
Following his arraignment in front of Springville Justice Kelly O’Neal Adams, Schumaker was returned to the Erie County Holding Center in downtown Buffalo, where he remains jailed without bail.
The teen is accused of repeatedly striking Austin Smith, 1, in the head. The little boy would have turned 2 today.
Schumaker allegedly attacked the child at some point while he was baby-sitting Tuesday afternoon into the evening at his parents’ Cochran Avenue home in Springville. Schumaker and Ashlee Smith, Austin’s mother, had moved there about two weeks ago.
Smith, 19, had left the boy and her 3-month-old baby in Schumaker’s care when she went to work, authorities said. She and Schumaker had been dating on and off for the last three years.
Sheriff Timothy B. Howard had said Schumaker attacked the boy because he was crying.
An autopsy determined Austin died from blunt force trauma to the head. The case against Schumaker is now expected to be presented to an Erie County grand jury for review.
email: lmichel@buffnews.com