AKRON, Ohio — A 23-year-old man faces felony charges after allegedly torturing a 12-year-old boy to death through repeated ice bath punishments on Saturday. Jadako Taylor was pronounced dead at Akron Children’s Hospital after EMS found him in cardiac arrest with a body temperature of just 74 degrees.
Court documents reveal horrific details of Jadako’s final hours. Anthony McCants allegedly forced the boy into two ice baths between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m. – the first lasting 45 minutes, followed by forced exercises, then a second 30-minute submersion. Jadako began vomiting and seizing after the final torture session before becoming unresponsive.
McCants was arrested on first-degree felony child endangerment charges, with bond set at $500,000. He has pleaded not guilty despite the damning allegations. The Summit County Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death, though hypothermia is suspected.
Neighbors described Jadako as a quiet, kind child who enjoyed basketball. “He was always smiling, just a sweet kid,” said one tearful resident. Community members held a vigil outside the home where the abuse occurred, leaving stuffed animals and candles.
Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett called this “one of the most disturbing cases of child abuse” in recent memory. Child welfare records show no prior contact with the family, raising questions about how the abuse went undetected.
McCants remains jailed awaiting trial. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison. Authorities continue investigating whether others were involved in Jadako’s tragic death.
