Father sentenced to 7 years in prison in son's scalding death

LEBANON, Ohio -- (WXIX) -- A Warren County father was sentenced to seven years in prison Tuesday in connection with the scalding death of his 4-year-old son.

Robert Ritchie was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and child endangering in August.

Ritchie was tried three times in connection the March 2016 death of his son, Austin Cooper.

Prosecutor David Fornshell said Ritchie's wife, Anna, put her stepson in 135-degree water and held him there for 20-25 minutes, causing his eventual death, because she resented becoming his primary caregiver.

Ritchie knew about his son was badly burned, but didn't check on him for 15 hours, according to prosecutors.

Fornshell has said Austin would likely be alive had he received medical treatment.

Judge Robert Peeler declared a mistrial in Ritchie's case in December of 2016, after the jury was unable to reach a verdict.

A second mistrial was declared in March after Ritchie became ill in court.