Couple charged with son’s death arrested for violating bond.

Couple charged with son’s death arrested for violating bond.

Drug tests reveal ‘multiple controlled substances’ in their systems.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

GRANT TOWNSHIP — The Rothbury couple charged with manslaughter and second-degree child abuse for their 4-year-old son’s death were arrested by Oceana County sheriff’s deputies Friday, Sept. 2, for violating their bonds following random drug tests, said Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast.

Jacob Scott Schutter, 32, and Jodi Michelle Neino, 29, of 4075 W. Clay Rd., were arrested Aug. 26 following an investigation into the young boy’s death.

Deputies reported to the couple’s residence Friday, Sept. 2, at 10 a.m. to perform random drug tests on the pair. Their urine samples tested positive for “multiple controlled substances,” including “hard drugs — very hardcore drug use,” said Sheriff Mast. “It is apparent that this couple has a serious drug problem, and it has appeared to have cost a life.”

The couple remain lodged in the Oceana County Jail as of Tuesday, Sept. 6. They had not appeared in front of a magistrate in 79th District Court for a bond hearing as of late Tuesday morning. 

Schutter and Neino were served warrants by the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office in their home, Aug. 26, and lodged in the Oceana County Jail. Their bail at the time was set at $10,000/cash/surety/10 percent, and both of them bonded out, said Sheriff Mast.

Substances believed to be drugs, along with drug paraphernalia, were found in their home at the time of their arrests, he said.

The death certificate lists the cause of their young son’s death as “toxic effects of para-fluorofentanyl and fentanyl,” said Mast. The manner of the death is listed as “indeterminate.” 

The 22-page police report that details the investigation of Eli Jude Schutter’s July 1 death reveals “uninhabitable” living conditions in the single-wide trailer where the little boy, his six siblings — including an infant — and their parents lived near Rothbury. The children have since been removed from the couple’s home by Child Protective Services.

The couple are scheduled for probable cause hearings in Oceana County’s 79th District Court, Sept. 13, at 3 p.m.

Manslaughter is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, and second-degree child abuse carries a maximum 10-year sentence.

“All of my investigating officers found the scene to be extremely bad on multiple different levels,” said Mast. 

Please consider helping to fund local news. Mason County Press and Oceana County Press are available for free thanks to the generous support of our advertisers and individuals. Three ways to help us: Venmo: @MasonCountyPress; Paypal: MasonCountyPress@gmail.com; Mail a check to PO BOX 21, Scottville, MI 49454.

This story is copyrighted © 2022, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.

As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.