May 14, 2021- 8:30 p.m.
LAKE COUNTY, Ohio — Lake County Common Pleas Court Judge John O’Donnell set bond Friday at $100,000 against a 30-year-old Willoughby man accused of killing his 3-week-old son.
William Beasley appeared Friday morning in court and pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, involuntary manslaughter, endangering children and felonious assault in the death of his son, Zachary Beasley, in May 2020. Beasley remains in the Lake County Jail, records say and his next court appearance has not yet been scheduled.
The court will appoint an attorney to represent him.
The investigation began when EMS workers went to Beasley’s home about 1:30 a.m. May 22, 2020 to respond to a report of an infant boy who was having difficulty breathing.
Paramedics took Zachary to Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights, then took him to the pediatric intensive care unit at Cleveland Clinic.
Healthcare workers later contacted Lake County Jobs and Family Services, saying Zachary showed signs of possible abuse. County officials contacted police upon learning this information.
Zachary died on May 29, 2020. His death was ruled a homicide by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office. He died from “complications of blunt force injury to head, trunk, and extremities with skeletal and brain injuries.”
Beasley was arrested Tuesday by Willoughby police and members of Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force after a year-long investigation into Zachary’s death.
