GAHANNA, Ohio — A Gahanna man accused of beating and strangling his 6-month-old child last year has taken a plea deal and must serve at least 10 years in prison, according to court documents.
Ceedric Hollingsworth, 25, took a plea deal naming him guilty of attempted murder and endangering children. The previous charge of felonious assault was dropped.
On Oct. 26, 2022, officers from the Columbus Division of Police were called to the 1900 block of Grasmere Avenue in north Columbus on a domestic violence call where they found the child's mom outside. Court records say she told police at the scene that both of her children were inside with Hollingsworth and "she feared for her life."
The SWAT team was called and made entry where they discovered two children, a 2-year-old and a 6-month-old, in the home alone. The 6-month-old was taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital in "serious condition."
When detectives revisited the hospital to check on the infant's condition, they were told the child had skull fractures, bruises, swelling to the face and strangulation marks to her neck. The infant also had a fractured clavicle.
The mother claimed that Hollingsworth told her, "when she cries I knock her out, I punch her and I choke her until she stops crying."
According to the complaint filed in the Franklin County Municipal Court last year, Hollingsworth knowingly caused serious physical harm by means of punching and strangulation of an infant until she stopped crying.