Matthew J. Ponomarenko, a 34-year-old from Parma, Ohio, received a life imprisonment sentence on November 9, 2023, eligible for parole after 45 years.
The sentence stems from the murder of his five-year-old son, Jax, an autistic child, in an incident that shocked the community on March 25, 2021. Ponomarenko used a baseball bat to commit the murder at their home on Russell Avenue.
The case’s details emerged from a disturbing 911 call made by Ponomarenko, in which he admitted to the murder and mentioned hearing voices, pointing to a possible mental health issue. Law enforcement officers responding to the scene discovered Jax in the living room, having sustained severe blunt-force trauma to his head and face, which led to his death. Investigations later revealed a pattern of torture and extreme neglect.
Following his indictment in August 2021, Ponomarenko initially pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea to guilty. This change facilitated a sentence for multiple charges: aggravated murder, child endangerment, and kidnapping. The plea deal modified the charges from capital murder and dismissed an additional count of child endangerment.
Ponomarenko’s mental health was a critical aspect of the trial. He was found competent to stand trial in a preliminary assessment, and his defense has since withdrawn a claim of serious mental illness due to the burden of additional proof required.
Jax communicated through a tablet due to his autism, and his untimely death has left lasting effects on his family and community.
Ponomarenko had a criminal history since 2011, with a conviction for child endangerment in 2017, and disorderly conduct while intoxicated and resisting arrest. He was held on a $5 million bond and had already served 960 days in jail prior to sentencing. Per the Reagan Tokes Law in Ohio, he may serve an additional four years before parole eligibility, under the law’s indefinite sentencing provisions.
Ponomarenko caused a brief disruption at his plea hearing by using inappropriate language towards the judge but was allowed to return to make a statement. If released, he is obligated to register as a violent offender.
The brutality of the crime and Ponomarenko’s confession have drawn significant attention to the case. The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office has expressed that the life sentence brings an end to this tragic event.
