Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
ETNA GREEN - A 1-year-old boy drowned this morning in a water trough in a barn at his residence.
Jason Stutzman, of 7806 W. CR 750N, was pronounced dead at 8:25 a.m. at Elkhart General Hospital. The toddler apparently climbed onto the trough near the horses in the barn and fell into the water. The child's 9-year-old brother, Marlin, found Jason floating facedown in the water and pulled him out. The victim was carried out of the barn and into the yard with Marlin shouting for help from his parents.
The child's father, Mark Stutzman, ran about one-sixteenth of a mile down the road to a pay telephone at the intersection of CRs 800W and 750N and called for help via 911. The family attempted to clear the child's lungs and begin CPR prior to the arrival of a Nappanee Emergency Medical Services crew.
Jason arrived at EGH at 8:20 a.m. and was pronounced dead five minutes later. The 911 call was placed at 7:33 a.m.
Apparently, family members at the Stutzman farm were performing their morning chores when the mother realized she hadn't seen Jason for a while. Marlin was sent to look for his younger brother and the search reportedly began in the barn near the horses, where the child liked to watch the animals. He was out of sight of other family members for an estimated 12 to 15 minutes.
