An Ohio mother has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after her 3-year-old son shot and killed himself with her boyfriend’s loaded unsecured, handgun earlier this week.
A criminal complaint says that Carley Dials, 29, and Sean Perrin, 31, were asleep in their Columbus apartment when the boy, identified as Cartier Smith, came into the bedroom, found the gun — which Dials said she had wedged between the mattress and wall after finding it on the floor — and shot himself, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
Perrin fled the scene while Dials dealt with the aftermath of the shooting, which took place just before 9 a.m. Monday.
The boy was rushed to Nationwide Children’s Hospital but died about an hour later.
Perrin was arrested later on Monday and charged with having a weapon under disability — meaning he violate one of five restrictions barring him from having a gun — and a probation violation. It’s not clear why Dials was charged with manslaughter and he was not, since he owned the gun and both were present.
Dials was given a $50,000 bond at a hearing on Tuesday after the judge rejected prosecutors’ calls for a bond of at least $1 million, citing her lack of a criminal history and the facts of the case. She posted that bond after the hearing and was released, Law&Crime reported.
Perrin declined to appear for his hearing and was given a $750,000 bond. He remains behind bars. Perrin and Dials are both due in court again on October 2.
An older child was removed from the home by Franklin County Children’s Services, WBNS said.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: Sean Perrin and Carley Dials/Franklin County Jail]
