State Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, speaks during a news conference earlier this year in the state Capitol.

The murder of a 2-year-old child in neighboring McKean County is prompting new state legislation.

Oakley Hedlund, 2, was found unresponsive at a home in Bradford and was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The child was born at Warren General Hospital on Jan. 18, 2023.

His father, Tyler Prescott, has been charged with first-degree felony aggravated assault, second-degree felony aggravated assault, first-degree felony aggravated assault, first-degree felony endangering the welfare of children – parent/guardian/other commits offense, first-degree felony criminal homicide, first-degree felony rape of a child, first-degree felony rape of a child – serious bodily injury, first-degree felony involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, first-degree felony involuntary deviate sexual intercourse – serious bodily injury, first-degree felony aggravated indecent assault of a child, misdemeanor indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age and second-degree felony incest of minor – complainant under 13 years of age.

Prescott had previously been sentenced to 20 to 40 months confinement in September 2022 after being found guilty of second-degree felony endangering the welfare of children – parent guardian other commits offense and two years probation after being guilty of recklessly endangering another person. While probation was listed on online court docket information, Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, said there was no mechanism to make sure there was continued supervision or monitoring following Prescott’s release from jail.

“In the near future, I intend to introduce legislation to impose a mandatory period of post-release supervision for any offender convicted of a crime involving a minor victim, regardless of whether the offender has served the maximum term of imprisonment imposed by the court,” Causer wrote in the co-sponsorship memorandum for legislation he is drafting in response to Oakley Hedlund’s death. “For the vast majority of convictions, once the offender serves the maximum term of imprisonment imposed by the court, there is no mechanism to ensure continued supervision or monitoring following release. This gap can have devastating consequences. In 2025, two-year-old Oakley Hedlund was tragically killed by his father, who had recently completed his sentence for two offenses – both of which involved a minor victim – and was released from a state correctional institution without any form of supervision.”

Prescott was initially arrested and charged with aggravated assault and child endangerment on August 14. This occurred after police responded to a call for an unresponsive infant on Sherman Street in Bradford. Additional charges were filed in mid-September and, during a preliminary hearing in early October, a judge ruled that enough evidence existed to send the murder and rape charges to court after a preliminary hearing that included graphic testimony. Prescott is being held without bail.

“This horrific case underscores the urgent need for reform to ensure that individuals convicted of crimes against children remain subject to post-release oversight and monitoring,” Causer wrote in his co-sponsorship memorandum. “My legislation will close this dangerous loophole by mandating a defined period of supervised release to better protect vulnerable children, support offender accountability, and enhance community safety.”