Three members of a Franklin County family are in jail in connection
with the death of a two-year old Naponee boy.
On Monday, April 30, around 8:00 p.m., two-year old Joseph Rinehart of Naponee, was brought to the Franklin County Hospital by family members. He was unresponsive upon arrival at the medical facility, where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy conducted on Wednesday, May 2, showed the toddler died of head and internal injuries caused by blunt force trauma. The subsequent investigation led to the arrest of the boy’s mother and grandparents. The three were taken into custody Wednesday night, May 2, at their home in Naponee. The boy’s mother, Laura E. Rinehart, 24, Naponee, was lodged in the Phelps County Jail.
The boy’s grandfather, Peter F. Draper, 47, Naponee, was lodged in the Franklin County Jail. The boy’s grandmother, Nancy L. Draper, Naponee, was lodged in the Hall County Jail.
The three were each lodged on a charge of child abuse resulting in death.
