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, found the body of Jax Ponomarenko at a home in the 4700 block of Russell Avenue around 2pm, and his 31-year-old father, Matthew Ponomarenko, was arrested at the scene.

Matthew Ponomarenko, 31, was arrested in Parma, Ohio, on Thursday for allegedly beating his five-year-old son Jax to death with a baseball bat
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Matthew Ponomarenko, 31, was arrested in Parma, Ohio, on Thursday for allegedly beating his five-year-old son Jax to death with a baseball batCredit: Parma Police
Jax had been having a visit with his dad at his mom's house when he was killed
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Jax had been having a visit with his dad at his mom's house when he was killedCredit: Parma Police

The chilling audio recording of the 911 call made by Matthew after allegedly was released by police, revealing how he confessed his dead son was now lying on the living room floor.

“I just killed my son,” Matthew tells the shocked dispatcher at the beginning of the five-minute call.

“I’m hearing voices,” the dad states after being asked what he means.

“He’s dead … in the living room,” Matthew continues, breathing heavily on the phone and asking for officers to be sent to the house.

Matthew had Jax's name tattooed above his left eye
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Matthew had Jax's name tattooed above his left eyeCredit: Matthew J. Ponomarenko/Facebook
The five-year-old had autism but learned to talk using a tablet
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The five-year-old had autism but learned to talk using a tabletCredit: Matthew J. Ponomarenko/Facebook

When questioned about why he killed his son, whose name he had tattooed above his eyebrow, the 31-year-old responds: “I don’t know.”

He claims that there was nobody else in the house with them at the time.

According to , the house belongs to Jax's mother but the young boy lived with his grandparents.

Matthew had reportedly been dropped off at the home earlier in the day.

The elder Ponomarenko remained on the phone but refused to answer any further questions, saying only, “I’m shaking.”

“They’re here,” he finally states as cops arrive, while he was allegedly waiting for officers on the front porch.

Matthew and Jax are pictured together. The young boy lived with his grandparents
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Matthew and Jax are pictured together. The young boy lived with his grandparentsCredit: Matthew J. Ponomarenko/Facebook
Jax was involved in another 2017 child endangerment case brought against his father
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Jax was involved in another 2017 child endangerment case brought against his fatherCredit: Matthew J. Ponomarenko/Facebook

According to the boy’s uncle Johnathan Cherni, Matthew was recently released from a behavioral health center and was off his medication.

The 31-year-old had reportedly spent time in several facilities and struggled with mental health issues and addiction.

Cherni told WOIO that Matthew had appeared fine and was “vibrant, completely content” when his mother dropped him off earlier that day.

“All of a sudden, we get hit with all this,” Cherni said.

He added that Jax had autism and had learned to communicate using a tablet.  

The boy’s cause of death has not yet been released by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner but the family has said that the funeral will be a closed casket.

Parma police found Jax's body in the living room of his mother's house
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Parma police found Jax's body in the living room of his mother's houseCredit: Fox 8
Matthew said he and his son were alone in the house at the time
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Matthew said he and his son were alone in the house at the timeCredit: Fox 8

Jax was also involved in a 2017 child endangering case brought against his father, according to .

It related to an incident on July 20, 2017, when Matthew and a then one-year-old Jax were found naked on a local road.

Matthew’s mother had called police saying he was having a mental breakdown, and running and swearing at people driving past him, a Parma police report said.

Jax had been left in the middle of a road in the as his father yelled at strangers.

Matthew later told police that he had taken meth, psychedelic mushrooms, and PCP, and he was taken to a hospital for treatment.

He was found guilty of child endangerment and ordered to pay fines.

Matthew was allegedly waiting for officers to arrive on the front porch
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Matthew was allegedly waiting for officers to arrive on the front porchCredit: Fox 8
Neighbors are shocked by the alleged murder in the Parma home
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Neighbors are shocked by the alleged murder in the Parma homeCredit: Fox 8

Jax was placed in the custody of an undisclosed relative at the time of the incident but local reports say he was living with grandparents at the time of his death.

The grandparents had allegedly hoped to keep Matthew as part of the young boy's life.

Cuyahoga County spokeswoman Mary Louise Madigan confirmed to Cleveland.com that the county’s Department of Children and Families had previous contact with the family.

She said that the county had not been in contact since 2019 and that they had worked with the family on parenting skills.

Neighbors were devastated to learn of the death of the young boy, described as “amazing” by his family.

“I’m super sad, and you know, mad all at the same time,” neighbor Amanda Bohach told WOIO.

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“I just realized it just sucks being this close to home and across from a school that’s right over there. The timing is also really bad -- kids were getting off the school bus.”

Ponomarenko is charged with one count of aggravated murder and will be arraigned on Monday in Parma Municipal Court.

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