CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley announced that a Cuyahoga County grand jury has returned an indictment charging Matthew Ponomarenko, 31, for the murder of his 5-year-old son in Parma.

“It is tragic and unimaginable that a father could murder his own son. Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family and friends as they grieve this tragedy.”

Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley

On March 25, 2021, Ponomarenko struck the victim multiple times with a baseball bat inside his residence on Russell Avenue near West 45th Street in Parma. He called 911 and, shortly after, officers with the Parma Police Department (PPD) arrived at the scene and arrested him in his front yard. PPD officers found the victim lying in the living room suffering from multiple blunt force injuries to his head and face and he was pronounced deceased.

Ponomarenko has been indicted on the following charges:

  • Two counts of Aggravated Murder
  • Two counts of Endangering Children