A Canton couple accused in the death of their 3-year-old son has surrendered to authorities, nearly a week after police obtained arrest warrants in the case.
Demetres S. Givens, 42, and Jamie L. Thompson, 37, are each charged with first-degree felony involuntary manslaughter and second-degree felony child endangerment in connection with the May 5 death of their son, Berko Givens.
According to Canton police, officers were called to the family’s home in the 3100 block of Gilbert Circle NE around 9:30 p.m. that evening for a report of an unresponsive child. When first responders arrived, they found the young boy not breathing. He was transported by paramedics to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Following an investigation, detectives requested arrest warrants for the couple on May 9, but authorities were unable to locate them. They remained at large until May 13, when they turned themselves in to police.
A 911 call placed from the home the night of Berko’s death offers a glimpse into the moments leading up to the emergency. In the call, Thompson can be heard crying as she tells a dispatcher her son isn’t breathing.
“He’s not breathing at all,” Thompson says, noting that the child had numerous medical issues and had been receiving care at Akron Children’s Hospital.
“I tried to wake him up to feed him, and he’s not alive,” she continues.
When the dispatcher asked if she wanted to begin CPR, Thompson replied that she was trying but the boy was unresponsive. She also mentioned her mother was en route and that her husband and other children were at the residence.
The case remains under investigation. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Canton Police Department at (330) 649-5800, the Detective Bureau at (330) 489-3144, or the U.S. Marshals Task Force at 1-877-WANTED2. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Tip411 or the Stark County Crime Stoppers at www.cantonohio.gov/police.
