Ohio Man, 35, Indicted After Allegedly Locking Toddler in 'Filthy' Bedroom for 7 Hours and Leaving Home

• An Ohio man has been indicted on two counts of child endangerment after authorities say he left a toddler with “special needs” home alone and locked in a room for seven hours on April 8
• The man’s father said he ultimately called the police on his son
• “There is never a reason to leave a 2-year-old child home alone,” Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said in a statement

An Ohio man has been indicted on two counts of child endangerment after authorities say he “recklessly physically restrained” a 2-year-old child with “special needs” when he locked the child in a bedroom and left the home.

Joshua Merz, 35, was indicted on the two counts following the April 8 incident, according to a news release from the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office.

Per the HCPO, Merz — who lives in the village of Cleves — allegedly left the child home alone in a bedroom for at least seven hours while at work. The child was found by a “neighbor,” who was later identified as Merz’s father.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office discovered the home in a condition “described as filthy and potentially dangerous,” per the HCPO. According to the office, the charges were filed as a third-degree felony and first-degree misdemeanor.

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The office alleged that Merz “restrained” the toddler in a “cruel manner or for a prolonged period, which restraint was excessive under the circumstances and created a substantial risk of serious physical harm.”

If convicted, he faces up to three-and-a-half years in prison.

“There is never a reason to leave a 2-year-old child home alone,” Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said in a statement. “It’s our job to make sure those who cannot speak for themselves are protected. And that’s exactly what we will do in this case.”

According to the HCSO’s website and Law & Crime, Merz was arrested on April 8 and taken to the Hamilton County Justice Center before posting 10% of his $25,000 bond.

Merz’s father Bruce Merz spoke with NBC affiliate WLWT and revealed that he was the one who decided to call the police on his son and told him to turn himself in.

“It’s heartbreaking. Hardest thing I ever had to do in my life, but it was the right thing to do. Josh knows it,” Bruce told the station. “He made a mistake, and we all have to live with it now.”

WLWT shared audio of the 911 call, during which Bruce alerted authorities of a “child left alone in a house.” Elsewhere during the call, per the clip shared by WLWT, a dispatcher said the child had previously been “found naked, locked in a bedroom by a friend.”

Speaking with the station, Bruce encouraged others in need to seek help. “You’re not alone. You got to reach out. Ask the people that love you. Don’t put it off,” he said.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.