Monday, August 27, 2012

Reno Man Charged for Girlfriend’s Baby’s Death


A 22-year-old Reno man has been charged Wednesday with child abuse and first-degree murder in connection with the August 8 death of his girlfriend’s baby.

Donald Jackson was charged in the criminal complaint filed in court for the killing of Jayden Marion, who was the 19-month-old baby son of Jackson’s live-in girlfriend at her residence on Lakeside Ave. in Reno. He was also charged with child abuse for having allegedly struck the baby between June 15 and July 30 in previously unreported abuse that caused bruises and swelling. His court hearing has not yet been scheduled.

According to Reno Police, their investigation revealed that the baby’s mother had gone to work and had left her child with Jackson, who was then also watching his own young son, on the morning of August 8. Later that day, Jackson went to a neighbor saying the baby was “cold and not breathing”. The child was brought to Renown Regional Medical Center just before noon where it was pronounced dead. An autopsy showed that the baby suffered from non-accidental blunt force trauma to his abdominal area. The injury was so severe that it severed a part of his liver, and lacerated his spleen.

Jackson was arrested August 9 and was held at Washoe County Jail without bail. His girlfriend told investigators she had seen bruises on her son’s buttocks and legs during the past few months and that his feet and one of his hands were also swollen and bruised. 

Read more related articles and news at Ross Goodman Criminal Defense Attorney Blog