Funeral services announced for baby killed in West Carrollton homicide

WEST CARROLLTON — The funeral services for Averi Grabans, the 1-month-old killed and the center of a West Carrollton homicide investigation, will be held Tuesday.

A visitation will be held for Grabans at the Newcomer Funeral Home in Kettering from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday and the funeral service will follow.

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Grabans died at Dayton Children’s Hospital last week. Dr. Kent Harshbarger said she died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head.

A review of the autopsy by News Center 7 showed Grabans had bruises to her head and neck. She also had a skull fracture and brain damage.

West Carrollton police said they were called to Dayton Children’s Hospital Aug. 21 after staff there reported injuries to a child. That same call prompted an assault investigation at an apartment in the 100 block of East Shannon Avenue. The assault was said to have happened around 7:15 p.m. Aug. 20, according to a police report.

Family members said Grabans was hurt while being watched by a babysitter.

“He hurt her,” Grabans’ grandmother Tracie Buckley said. “I don’t even know if I can handle knowing exactly what he did to her if it comes out.”

Police have not announced any arrests in the case and details about what happened were not immediately available.

“We are dedicated to completing a thorough and rigorous investigation; and our detectives are working diligently to do just that,” said West Carrollton Officer Maureen Flaute. “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those involved.”

Buckley told News Center 7 Grabans’ organs were donated, including her heart and liver, and they are thankful part of her will help another child live.

“She stayed strong. She kept her little heart strong, so she could give it to somebody else,” Buckley said.

Buckley said she had pictured watching her granddaughter grow up.

“I pictured a little pigtailed girl running around a little dresses, playing and it’s never going to happen now,” Buckley said.

She’s also worried about her daughter as she copes with the loss of her child.

“She shouldn’t have to go through this. She was a good mommy and she loved her so much,” Buckley said.

Buckley said she’s focused on letting investigators figure out what exactly happened to get little Averi justice.

“We are going to trust in God to make sure that these detectives are guided in the right direction, so they can get the most solid case that they can,” she said.

Cox Media Group