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Be on the look out for furry men

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Happy birthday to Lacey Gushock!

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Jury selection has concluded in the trial of a Nanticoke man accused in the accidental suffocation death of his infant son.</p><p>Corey Eckrote, 50, faces one felony count each of involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of children in the February 2014, death of 2&#189;-month-old Jaxon Eckrote.</p><p>Openings in the trial before Judge David W. Lupas are expected to begin Tuesday.</p><p>Jaxon&#8217;s mother, Tracey Ann Gonda, 42, of Nanticoke, pleaded guilty in September to her role in the child&#8217;s death, admitting to one felony count of endangering the welfare of a child and one misdemeanor count of corruption of minors.</p><p>Through her plea agreement, she dodged the involuntary manslaughter charge.</p><p>Prosecutors say Gonda had been drinking on Feb. 14, 2014, when she unknowingly closed a recliner on the infant, causing him to suffocate.</p><p>Jaxon allegedly remained wedged in the recliner for several hours before Gonda discovered the infant had died. Police say dried blood and saliva was found on the recliner.</p><p>According to arrest papers, Eckrote and Gonda both wanted to sleep before the baby died and argued over who would care for the child.</p><p>Police also say Eckrote purchased the two 24-ounce alcoholic beverages Gonda consumed before falling asleep.</p><p>Defense attorneys last year argued the death was an accident, saying Gonda was unaware Jaxon was still in the chair when she woke up and returned it to the upright position.</p><p>In her initial reports to investigators, Gonda allegedly told police she found Jaxon unresponsive in a bassinet, but police say her other child provided a conflicting report of where the baby&#8217;s body was discovered.</p><p>Police alleged Gonda attempted to discredit the other child&#8217;s story, but eventually admitted to lying about the circumstances of her baby&#8217;s death when presented with autopsy information that conflicted with her story.</p><p>Jaxon was born Nov. 22, 2013, at Moses Taylor Hospital in Scranton. Authorities said that during her pregnancy, Gonda consumed alcohol, used drugs and did not seek pre-natal care.</p><p>She caught the attention of Luzerne County Children and Youth Services, and legal and parental custody of both Jaxon and Gonda&#8217;s other son were awarded to Eckrote .</p><p>Gonda remains free on bail. She is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 23.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">In this Times Leader file photo, Corey Eckrote arrives at a district judge&#8217;s office in October 2014. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL100414babydeath2.jpg</photo0><caption0>In this Times Leader file photo, Corey Eckrote arrives at a district judge&#8217;s office in October 2014. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_jaxon_eckrote.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Jaxon Eckrote </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_jaxon_eckrote.jpg</photo1><caption1>Jaxon Eckrote </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By James O&#8217;Malley</p><p>jomalley@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach James O&#8217;Malley at 570-991-6390 or on Twitter @TL_omalley.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Trial set to begin Tuesday in baby suffocation death in Nanticoke