Police: Father tried to kill baby in oven

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EUCLID, Ohio, May 6 (UPI) -- Police allege a 30-year-old man was high on drugs when he attempted to kill his 4-week-old son by placing the baby inside an oven in Euclid, Ohio.

Authorities have accused Sammy G. Hunter Jr. of attempting to kill his infant son April 2 by placing him inside a hot oven and then attempting to start a fire using natural gas, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer said Wednesday.

Hunter's live-in girlfriend, who also was not identified, managed to stop Hunter from putting the child into the oven, authorities allege.

Prosecutors allege when firefighters arrived at Hunter's home to investigate a report of a gas odor, the suspect assaulted them. He was then arrested by police.

Prosecutor's spokesman Ryan Miday said Hunter was then taken to a nearby hospital where he allegedly spoke openly about his need to kill his young child.

"I need to kill him. I don't want him to go through what I did," Miday quoted Hunter as allegedly saying.

The Plain Dealer said Hunter has been indicted on charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, domestic violence, attempted aggravated arson, assault, child endangering and obstructing official business.