Crawford County man appears in court on child-abuse homicide charge

A Crawford County man has made his initial court appearance on a charge of reckless homicide, in the death of a toddler. 

Chase Harville of Prairie du Chien is suspected of causing fatal head trauma to the 3-year-old boy while taking care of him earlier this month. 

Harville claimed that the child had banged his head into a countertop while roller-skating in the house, but an autopsy showed that the boy died from multiple severe head injuries.

Harville was arrested following a brief manhunt on July 10th, the day the child died.

Wednesday’s hearing for Harville before Judge Lynn Rider could not be completed, because his defense lawyer was not available. 

The hearing will resume on Monday. 

Bond remains at $300,000 for Harville.