A Summit County jury has found a 21 year-old Akron woman guilty of the meth-related death of her toddler son.

The jury found Heather Lerch guilty of murder, involuntary manslaughter, and child endangering.

Prosecutors say after Lerch and her 17 month-old son Patrick moved into the home of her boyfriend, 19 year-old Randy Legg, Patrick was kept in the basement near an active meth lab and rats.

Legg faces an October trial on involuntary manslaughter, child endangering and other charges. His 22 year-old brother Ronald has a September trial on murder and other charges.

Lerch will be sentenced in the courtroom of Judge Thomas Parker on September 25.

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SUMMIT COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE - news release

Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today that a jury found Heather Lerch, 21, of St. Leger Avenue in Akron, guilty of Murder, Involuntary Manslaughter and Child Endangering for the February death of her 17-month-old son Patrick.

Patrick died February 26 after ingesting large amounts of methamphetamine. Lerch and her son moved into the home of her boyfriend, Randy Legg, on St. Leger Avenue just days before Patrick died. Patrick was kept in the home’s rat-infested basement in the care of two other men, who were cooking and high on meth throughout Patrick’s last days.

“This was a horrific crime, and I thank the jury for finding Heather Lerch guilty of killing her son,” said Prosecutor Walsh. “Patrick’s death is, unfortunately, a very sad example of how drugs – especially meth – ruin lives.”

Randy Legg, 19, is scheduled to go to trial October 4. He is charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, Child Endangering and several drug charges. His brother, Ronald Legg, 22, is scheduled to go to trial September 24 on charges of Murder, Involuntary Manslaughter, Child Endangering and several drug charges. A third man, Allen Kostra, 25, pleaded guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter, Child Endangering and Illegal Manufacture of Drugs. He testified for the State again Heather Lerch.

Judge Thomas Parker will sentence Lerch at 9:00 a.m. on September 25.

The Akron mother charged in the death of her 17 month son in a meth house could learn her fate next week.

The Beacon Journal reports that the jury will begin deliberating Monday in the case of 21 year-old Heather Lerch, charged with murder in the death of her 17 month-old son Patrick.

Prosectuors say the child died from meth poisoning from ingesting meth. They offered testimony that Patrick was kept in a basement with an active meth lab and rats.

Heather Lerch also faces charges including involuntary manslaughter, endangering children and complicity.

But the newspaper reports that two charges of illegal assembly of manufacturing drugs were dropped Friday by Summit County Common Pleas Judge Tom Parker for lack of evidence.

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On the Web: Akron Beacon Journal, www.ohio.com

A guilty plea was entered for one of the four defendants charged in connection with the drug-related death of 17-month-old Patrick Nicholas Lerch.

The Beacon Journal reports Allen Kostra, 25, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and other felonies. Prosecutors say he faces up to 11 years in prison.

Kostra accepted a plea deal which includes testifying in the murder trial of the child's mother, 21-year-old Heather Lerch.

Lerch's boyfriend, Randy Legg, 19, and his brother Ronald Legg, 22, are currently awaiting trial.

Police found an active meth lab in a home on St. Ledger Avenue where 17-month-old Patrick Lerch was found unresponsive February 26th. The toddler's death was ruled a homicide from methamphetamine intoxication.

On the Web: www.ohio.com

The trial date has been set for the mother accused of murder in the death of her 17-month-old child.

The Beacon Journal reports a August 20th trial date was set for Heather Lerch, 20, in Summit County Common Pleas Court.

Lerch and three other adults were charged in connection with the death of 17-month-old Patrick Lerch after police found an active meth lab inside the home on St. Ledger Avenue February 26th.

The toddler's death was ruled a homicide from methamphetamine intoxication.

Ronald S. Legg's, 22, trail date has been set for for September 24th.

A joint trial has been set for Lerch's boyfriend, Randy Legg, 19, and Allen Kostra, 24, on October 4th.

On the Web: www.ohio.com 

Indictments handed down today against the four people prosecutors and police say were running a meth house -- one with fumes toxic enough to kill a 17-month old toddler. Little Patrick Lerch died from exposure to meth and the chemicals used to make it, says the Medical Examiner. Now the four arrested for running the meth house -- including Patrick's mother, Heather -- face additional murder charges.

(Summit County Prosecutor) Summit County Prosecuting Attorney Sherri Bevan Walsh today announced formal charges against four people for the death of 17-month-old Patrick Lerch, who was found unresponsive in an Akron home in late February. Heather Lerch, Ronald Legg, Randy Legg and Allen Kostra were previously indicted on charges of Illegal Manufacture of Drugs (a felony of the first degree), Assembly or Possession of Chemicals to Make Meth (a felony of the second degree), Aggravated Possession of Drugs (a felony of the fifth degree) and Drug Paraphernalia (a misdemeanor of the fourth degree). Today’s indictment adds charges for Patrick’s murder.

The full charges are as follows:

Heather Lerch, 20, of St. Leger Street in Akron

• Murder
• Complicity to Commit Murder
• Four counts of Involuntary Manslaughter
• Three counts of Child Endangering
• Complicity to Commit Child Endangering, Illegal Manufacturing of Drugs
• Illegal Possession of Chemicals to Manufacture Meth
• Aggravated Possession of Drug
• Illegal Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Ronald Legg, 22, of Akron

• Murder
• Three counts of Involuntary Manslaughter
• Two counts of Child Endangering
• Illegal Manufacturing of Drugs
• Illegal Possession of Chemicals to Manufacture Meth
• Aggravated Possession of Drugs
• Illegal Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Randy Legg, 19, St. Leger Street in Akron

• Three counts of Involuntary Manslaughter
• Child Endangering
• Illegal Manufacturing of Drugs
• Illegal Possession of Chemicals to Manufacture Meth
• Aggravated Possession of Drugs
• Illegal Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Allen Kostra, 24, of Akron

• Three counts of Involuntary Manslaughter
• Child Endangering
• Illegal Manufacturing of Drugs
• Illegal Possession of Chemicals to Manufacture Meth
• Aggravated Possession of Drugs
• Illegal Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Lerch, Legg, Legg and Kostra will be arraigned on these charges at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, April 6 in Summit County Court of Common Pleas. If convicted on all charges, Lerch and Ronald Legg could spend the rest of their lives in prison. Randy Legg and Kostra could spend up to 22 years in prison.

A not guilty plea was entered for three of the four suspects arrested in connection with the death of a toddler who was found unresponsive inside an Akron home where a meth lab was found.

The Beacon Journal reports the toddler's mother, Heather Lerch, 20; her boyfriend, Randy Legg, 19, and Allen Kostra, 24, appeared in court by video Monday.

Ronald Legg, 22, waived his appearance in court.

17-month-old Patrick Lerch died on Feb. 26 after he was discovered not breathing at what police describe as a meth lab house on Saint Leger Avenue.

The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office reports the child was taken to Akron Children's Hospital, where he later died from methamphetamine intoxication.

Heather Lerch and Ronald Legg have been charged with murder and felony child endangering.

Randy Legg and Kostra have been charged with manslaughter.

On the Web: www.ohio.com

Previous Coverage:

• Four Charged In Connection With Toddler's Death

• Four Suspects Plead Not Guilty To Drug Charges Following Toddler's Death

• Bond Set For Suspects Arrested Following Toddler's Death

• Authorities Say Toddler's Death Is "Suspected Homicide"

• Four Arrested Following Toddler's Death

The four suspects arrested in connection with running a meth lab in a home where a toddler was found unresponsive pleaded not guilty to drug charges Wednesday morning.

The Beacon Journal reports the toddler's mother Heather Lerch, 20; her boyfriend Randy Legg, 19; Ronald Legg, 22; and Allen Kostra, 24, were unable to post bond after their arraignment in Summit County Common Pleas Court.

The four suspects are being held on $100,000 dollars cash bond.

On February 26, 17-month-old Patrick Lerch was discovered not breathing at what police describe as a meth lab house on Saint Leger Avenue. The toddler died after he was taken to Akron Children's Hospital.

On the Web: www.ohio.com 

The Summit County Medical Examiner describes the weekend death of an Akron toddler as "suspicious death" and a "possible homicide".

"It's going to take several weeks, probably four to six weeks for further testing before an official ruling has been made," he said.

Guenther says doctors have to look at toxicology results before making a determination.

This comes after four people, including mother, Heather Lerch, 20, of Akron, were arrested this week on drug and child endangering charges.

Authorities say the body of Patrick Lerch was found unresponsive Sunday night at at a home in the 500 block of Saint Ledger Avenue in Akron.

The Beacon Journal reports police discovered a meth lab at the home.

Previous Coverage:

Four Arrested Following Toddler's Death