Columbus Mother Billie Jo Tustin Faces Murder Charges in 9-Month-Old Son's Tragic Death; Boyfriend Also Indicted

Horrific Incident Leads to Death of Infant Son

A heartbreaking case of alleged child abuse has gripped Central Ohio, as a Columbus woman, Billie Jo Tustin, 30, faces a slew of serious felony charges, including aggravated murder and murder, following the death of her 9-month-old son. The infant, who suffered catastrophic injuries, was taken off life support days after the incident.

The tragic event unfolded when emergency services were called to an Italian Village residence on the 900 block of North 4th Street. Medics found the baby boy in critical condition and immediately transported him to Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Court records later revealed the extent of the boy's suffering: multiple traumatic injuries, including severe skull fractures and brain bleeds.

Mother Admits to Throwing Child Out of Frustration

During questioning by detectives, Tustin initially provided false accounts of how the injuries occurred. However, when confronted with the severity of her son’s condition, Tustin reportedly confessed to the horrific abuse.

According to documents from the Franklin County Municipal Court, Tustin admitted that she "snapped" because the baby "kept crying and annoying her." In a fit of frustration, she admitted to throwing the 9-month-old across the living room, causing him to land on his head on the floor. She further confessed to repeatedly throwing the child and resorting to spanking and slapping him in the face when overwhelmed.

Following the admission, Tustin was indicted by a grand jury on charges of:

• Aggravated Murder

• Murder

• Felonious Assault

• Endangering Children

A bond of $1 million was set for Tustin, and she has entered a not-guilty plea.

Boyfriend Charged as Co-Defendant in Case

The investigation also implicated Tustin’s live-in boyfriend, Anfernee Barthel, who is facing charges as a co-defendant. Barthel has been indicted on one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of endangering children.

Prosecutors stated that the charges against Barthel stem from a "violation of his duty of care to the child as a person in loco parentis (in place of a parent) to the child."

Authorities have confirmed that Tustin's 3-year-old daughter has been removed from the household and is now under the custody of Franklin County Children Services. Both Tustin and Barthel are prohibited from having unsupervised contact with minors. The legal proceedings for both suspects are currently underway in Columbus, Ohio.

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