Matthew Nuttall

A Chautauqua County Grand Jury has handed up an indictment charging a Jamestown man with first- and second-degree manslaughter after the death of a 16-month-old in April.

Jason Schmidt, Chautauqua County district attorney, announced the indictment Wednesday. Jamestown police were notified April 15 of a suspicious death of a child that occurred April 13 in the city. An investigation showed Matthew E. Nuttall, 26, allegedly caused the death of Isaac Benton by blunt force trauma. Nuttall was charged April 17 with second-degree manslaughter and was arraigned April 18 by Judge George Panebianco before being sent to the Chautauqua County Jail on $500,000 cash bail or $1 million property bond.

Nuttal allegedly threw the child into a Pack-and-Play portable crib because he was frustrated the baby wouldn’t stop crying. The child’s spinal cord was severed, which caused the child’s death.

At his arraignment on a superseding indictment recently filed by Schmidt, Chautauqua County Court held Nuttall on bail of $1 million cash or, in the alternative, a $500,000 property bond. He is due back in county court in July for further pre-trial proceedings.

“This indictment comes as the result of a comprehensive investigation conducted by investigators and juvenile detectives of Jamestown Police Department, and because of the observations and suspicions of a very capable coroner who suspected abuse despite the story initially provided to first responders. Their efforts and professionalism deserve special recognition,” Schmidt said.