ALLEN COUNTY, OH (WLIO) -Â A toddler died last night in a car fire in Allen County.
The Allen County Sheriff's Office reports that 3-year-old Lillyanna Stemen was in the back seat of the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. The vehicle was driven by her father, 33-year-old Nicholas Matthew Stemen of Elida, Ohio.
Stemen was taken into custody and booked into the Allen County Jail on a felony endangering children charge.
The sheriff's office reports that around 9:50 p.m. Wednesday, a 9-1-1 call came in of an irrational driver swerving and driving on a wheel rim.
While on the way to the scene, deputies were told the vehicle came to a stop near Zion Church and Shenk roads and was engulfed in flames.
Stemen got out of the vehicle uninjured.
When the American Township Fire Department put out the fire, Lillyanna was discovered in the back seat.
Stemen was taken into custody and booked into the Allen County Jail on a felony endangering children charge. The incident remains under investigation, with additional charges expected.
9/27/24 Update: A GoFundMe has been created to support the family of Lillyanna Stemen.
September 26, 2024, Press Release from the Allen County Sheriff's Office: On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at approximately 9:51 p.m. a call was placed to 911 for an irrational driver with the vehicle swerving and possible driving on a wheel rim. While in route, deputies were advised that the vehicle came to a stop near on Zion Church Road near Shenk Road and had caught fire. Allen County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived to find the vehicle fully engulfed in flames. The driver, Nicholas Matthew Stemen (DOB 5/15/1991) of Elida, had exited the vehicle without injury. American Township Fire Department arrived and extinguished the fire and discovered the body of Lillyanna Stemen (DOB 10-13-2020) in the back seat. Lillyanna was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mr. Stemen, Lillyanna’s father, was taken into custody and booked into the Allen County Jail on a felonious endangering children charge. This case is still under investigation with additional charges expected.
