$5M bond for Loveland dad charged with murder of his 4-month-old daughter he claims fell off changing table

LOVELAND, Ohio — Andrew Kammerer was in tears as a judge read the details of the charges against him in court Friday morning. The Loveland man is charged with murder in connection with the death of his 4-month-old daughter who he claimed fell off a changing table.

According to the indictment, 33-year-old Andrew Kammerer faces an aggravated murder charge, three counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault and four counts of endangering children in connection with the death investigation — all 10 counts are felonies. He pleaded not guilty Friday morning in court, keeping his head down through tears for most of the hearing.

An affidavit filed in court stated Goshen police officers responded to a home on East Meadowbrook Drive at around 6:49 a.m. Monday after Kammerer called 911. He told dispatchers the baby girl was experiencing breathing problems after a fall.

Court records state Kammerer told Goshen officers during an interview that he was changing the child when she fell from the changing table. He told officers she was face-down on the floor and he picked her up and called 911, then performed CPR as instructed by dispatchers until EMS services arrived.

While officers were on their way, they were told the child had stopped breathing; first responders took her to Bethesda North Hospital, but she was later transferred to Cincinnati Children's Hospital and placed on life support.

The child succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at 10:18 p.m. that same day, according to the affidavit.

A report from the Hamilton County Coroner's Office sent the next morning listed 4-month-old Evelyn Kammerer as having died Monday at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, though the circumstances of her death were still noted as "pending."

Court records state an MRI showed "a substantial amount of hemorrhaging" around the girl's brain. After she died, coroners performed an autopsy on Tuesday which showed significant internal trauma to her brain, spinal column and liver.

"Due to the multitude and severity of injuries suffered by [Evelyn], various professionals have indicated her injuries did not occur as reported by Krammerer," a release from the office of Clermont County Prosecutor Mark Tekulve, stated. "As the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center was fighting to save the life of [Evelyn], the Goshen Detectives requested that the hospital also examine the other twin."

Evelyn's twin sister suffered serious injuries that went unreported previously, according to the affidavit.

"At the conclusion of (the sister's) examination, the doctors determined that she too had been injured, but her injuries were slightly older," the statement read.

At least one of the endangering children charges Kammerer faces is in connection with the injuries the sister previously sustained. There is no update on the sister's condition at this time.

“This was not a single incident, it was a pattern of behavior," Lara Baron-Allen, the prosecuting attorney, said in court Friday.

Kammerer's defense attorney, Bill Rapp, asked the judge to consider that it wasn't a purposeful act, pointing to the 911 call that Kammerer made to request assistance. Rapp also said the twins were premature, and had pre-existing health conditions.

Kammerer's bond was set at $5 million, and he is to have no contact with his surviving twin daughter.

"It kind of just destroys my world man, like, I think children are the most precious thing in this whole world," said Brent Shafor, who lives in the neighborhood where the incident allegedly occurred. "I can't even imagine. My whole world would just crumble. I can't even imagine."

Other neighbors, like Mike Walter, are also mourning the senseless loss of life.

"It's terrible, you know. Two little children — one died. The other, I hear, is critically injured," he said. "I don't know what's going on with the father. Nothing like that has ever happened."

"My heart goes out to the family of [Evelyn] and D.K., during this awful time. Cases like this one render our work as prosecutors challenging and heartbreaking, yet essential," Tekluve said in a statement. "We must fight for justice for those who are not able to fight for themselves."

Kammerer is currently in custody at the Clermont County Jail.

Kammerer's next court date is on November 26. If convicted, he faces life in prison.

Editor's note: This story originally reported the girl was 3 months old, citing court documents. The prosecution later clarified the girl was 4 months old at the time of her death.