By Patric Hedlund

Jayson M. Schimmel, 32 of Lockwood Valley was arrested Thursday, March 5 "for the murder of his biological son," the Ventura County Sheriff’s department reports in an official statement.

On March 2 at about 1 a.m., Lockwood Valley deputies were dispatched with lights and siren to the 17500 block of Maple Trail in Lockwood Valley in response to a "baby not breathing call," Sgt. Michael Powers of the Major Crimes Unit reports.

Dispatchers coached the parents in providing CPR, then deputies took over when they arrived. Kern County Firefighters from Frazier Park and AMR Ambulance responded to aid in the attempt to resuscitate two-and-a-half month old Steven Otto Schimmel.

The infant was transported to the U.S. Forest Service Chuchupate Ranger Station, then airlifted to Kern Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The infant’s father and mother, Elizabeth Hill, 19 (who attended Frazier Mountain High School in 2007) were interviewed. "Steven’s mother and father are not married, but have lived together for a couple of years, in a guesthouse behind Jayson’s parent’s house," Sgt. Powers reports. He continues: "Initial information indicated that Steven awoke crying, then went limp during bottle feeding and subsequently stopped breathing for unknown reasons." A 911 call was placed.

An autopsy was performed by the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s office. The autopsy revealed that Steven Schimmel died of "blunt force head injuries." Steven also had multiple bruises on other portions of his body, as well as multiple fractures," Powers reports, a pattern consistent with Battered Child Syndrome.

"The investigation determined that Jayson Schimmel was responsible for the crime and probable cause existed to arrest him for murder," Powers said. Captain Ross Bonfiglio, spokesperson for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office added, "it had been going on for at least two weeks," referring to the injuries to the child. Court records indicate that Schimmel may have recently been released from jail, serving a belated sentence on drug charges from 2004.

Sheriff’s Detective Scott Peterson arrested Schimmel at about 3:20 p.m. in Frazier Park, in front of Dunn Right Auto Repair on Mt. Pinos Way. He was taken to Ventura County Jail, being held on $505,000 bail.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on the infant’s death to contact the sheriff’s major crimes unit at (805) 477-7000.

The Mountain Communities Family Resource Center (MCFRC) will be collecting donations to assist Beth Hill with the funeral services of her son.

The MCFRC is located at 3015 Mt. Pinos Way, suite 201, in Frazier Park. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-4 p.m.

All checks should be made out to the MCFRC with the name Steven Otto Schimmel in the memo field. Collected funds will go directly to the funeral services provider.

This is part of the March 13, 2009 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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