Tuscaloosa man faces murder charge in infant's death
A 27-year-old man faces an upgraded charge of felony murder in connection with the death of an infant in Tuscaloosa.
Jaquion Ladarrion Stewart was originally arrested on April 26 and charged with aggravated child abuse, said Capt. Jack Kennedy of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit.
On April 25, Tuscaloosa County Sherriff's Office deputies and medical personnel responded to Hallmark Apartments after receiving a report of an unresponsive 4-month-old child. The infant was immediately taken to DCH Regional Medical Center and later transferred to Children’s of Alabama hospital in Birmingham, Kennedy said.
Kennedy said medical examinations revealed the infant had internal injuries consistent with abuse. The injuries were life-threatening and the child was placed on life support.
The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit launched an investigation and at the time, charged Stewart with aggravated child abuse. Stewart was the live-in boyfriend of the child’s mother, but not the biological father. He has been held in the Tuscaloosa County Jail since April 26.
Kennedy said the hospital reported May 15 that the child died. The charges against Stewart were then upgraded to felony murder.
Stewart remains in the Tuscaloosa the County Jail.
Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Charges against Tuscaloosa man upgraded to murder after infant's death
