Authorities say an Ohio man previously convicted in the death of his 2‑month‑old son, who was killed after being struck by a ceramic mug, has been arrested again years later on an alleged parole violation tied to the case.
In 2015, Anthony Grove was involved in a domestic dispute at a home in Ohio when he threw a ceramic coffee mug during an argument with the baby's mother. The mug missed the woman but hit their infant son, Zeeland, in the head. The child was taken to a hospital with severe head injuries and died the following day.
Police said at the time that the injuries were consistent with blunt force trauma caused by the mug. Grove was arrested and later charged in connection with his son's death. Prosecutors pursued serious felony counts due to the child's age and the circumstances of the incident, according to People.
Court records show that Grove ultimately pleaded guilty to reduced charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment. A judge sentenced him to a prison term of several years, and he was later released under supervision. The case was widely reported as an example of how quickly domestic disputes can turn deadly when children are present, USA Today reported.
In March 2026, law enforcement officers in Florida encountered Grove while patrolling a busy beach area during spring break. When they checked his identity, they learned he was wanted out of Ohio for an alleged violation of his post‑release supervision connected to the 2015 conviction. Officers took him into custody without incident and transported him to a local jail to await further action.
Officials said Grove initially tried to conceal his identity from the Florida officers by giving a false name and downplaying his criminal history. Deputies became suspicious and ran additional checks, which revealed the warrant tied to his conviction in his infant son's death. Authorities said his attempts to hide the truth failed once his fingerprints and records were verified.
Authorities in Ohio have been notified and are expected to begin the process of returning Grove to the state. Officials said the alleged violation relates directly to the conditions imposed after his conviction in his infant son's death.
The underlying homicide case involving the ceramic mug remains a key part of his criminal record and the basis for continued supervision, as per News5Cleveland.
