BENTON – John Mikulich, originally charged with wanton endangerment after his six month-old infant son was discovered unresponsive in a bath tub, has now been indicted by a grand jury on charges of wanton murder.
Mikulich had been left to supervise his two small children while his wife was at work the evening of March 14 when the incident occurred. Police reports indicate that upon their arrival on scene, Mikulich appeared to be under the influence of some type of intoxicating substance. Court testimony later indicated Mikulich admitted to smoking marijuana and taking Xanax along with Methodone.
Despite being airlifted to Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville, the baby survived just 10 days before succumbing to his injuries. After a preliminary hearing on March 25, District Court Judge Jack Telle found there was enough evidence to forward the case to the grand jury.
Last week, law enforcement presented the case with two options on the table for consideration– one, the charge of manslaughter second-degree and two being the charge of wanton murder.
After hearing all of the facts in the case, the grand jury moved to indict Mikulich last Thursday on charges of wanton murder which could carry a possible life sentence.
Marshall County Lieutenant Detective Matt Hilbrecht said the judge signed the indictments this morning, including the charge of wanton murder, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Mikulich is in court today where he will be arraigned on the new charges. “Basically for a grand jury to indict on wanton murder, they have to feel that the facts represent an extreme indifference to human life,” Hilbrecht said.
While still unexplained, information in the preliminary hearing indicated autopsy results also revealed the infant suffered a skull fracture.
See previous story: https://www.marshallcountydaily.com/2015/03/25/case-headed-to-grand-jury-bond-reduction-denied-for-father-charged-with-wanton-endangerment-in-the-drowning-of-infant-son/