DEMARCUS JACKSON - 2 yo - Cincinnati OH

Father charged with murder of toddler son

Posted: 10/23/2011

CINCINNATI - Antrone Smith was in front of Hamilton county judge for arraignment Monday morning.
He is charged with murdering his two year-old son Demarcus Jackson.
The judge set Smith's bond at $500,000.
Cincinnati police arrested Smith Sunday morning in the death of his son.
Police say they responded to calls of 2-year-old Jackson, not breathing at a home in the 3100 block of Bracken Woods Lane in Westwood Friday.
Jackson was transported to Children’s Hospital where he died.
A medical examination of the child revealed the cause of death was a blow to the abdomen.


Read more: http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/region_west_cincinnati/westwood/father-charged-with-murder-of-toddler-son-#ixzz1btWtHE00

Hamilton County prosecutor disturbed by toddler's death

Posted: 10/25/2011

CINCINNATI - Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters says he is very disturbed by the initial reports from the case of DeMarcus Jackson, a 2-year-old boy who police say was murdered by his father.
According to investigators Jackson was taken to Children's Hospital in Cincinnati Friday, Oct. 21 after complaining of stomach pains. The child later died at the hospital from blunt force trauma to the abdomen.
Sunday morning, police arrested the child's father, 29-year-old Antrone Smith of Westwood and charged him with murder. He is being held on a $500,000 bond. Smith's next court appearance is November 2.
"Over the next week, my office will review the facts surrounding the death of DeMarcus Jackson. " Deters said, "Last night I spoke with Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. I pledged that my office will thoroughly and completely investigate the circumstances surrounding the placement of this child and the baby's ultimate death."
Jackson and his three siblings were recently taken out of foster care and placed back in the home with their biological parents.
Foster parents had cared for the children just a few days after Jackson was born.


Read more: http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/local_news/hamilton-county-prosecutor-disturbed-by-toddler%27s-death#ixzz1btXuw2XD

CINCINNATI —
A prosecutor said Friday he will seek the death penalty against a
Cincinnati father accused in the abuse death of his 2-year-old son, who
was recently returned to his birth parents from foster care in a
decision that triggered outrage and an independent review of the
county's social services agency.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters announced grand jury indictments
of Antrone Smith, 29, on counts of aggravated murder, murder and felonious assault.
Smith was in jail Friday on $500,000 bond. A message was left for his attorney.

DeMarcus Jackson's mother, Latricia Jackson, age 22, has been indicted on a
child endangering count that could carry a possible sentence of up to
three years in prison upon conviction. No attorney was listed for her in
court records and no court appearance had been scheduled.
Deters said DeMarcus suffered numerous injuries, including multiple bruises and
cuts, and an untreated burn, before he died Oct. 21 from blunt force to
his abdomen. He said the child was "subjected to torture and abuse" and died painfully.
"It is so heartbreaking to see little kids treated in this manner," Deters said. "This is a very bad case."
DeMarcus's death echoes the 2006 child abuse case that shocked people in this
region — the death of 3-year-old Marcus Fiesel after being left alone
bound inside a closet. His foster parents were convicted of murder and
are serving life sentences.
In the current case, the little boy had been reunited with his birth parents
in August after nearly 2 years in foster care.
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine called DeMarcus' case "a horrible,
horrible human tragedy." DeWine said he didn't want to discuss
specifics, but said in general, the top priority must be the child's safety.
"While reunification is the goal and we should try to
reunite families, the safety of the child ... is always paramount," he said.
The director of county Job and Family Services, Moira Weir,
and county commissioner Greg Hartmann ordered an independent system-wide
review of the case. Ross Evans, a Cincinnati attorney, will investigate.
County authorities say they are required to make
reasonable efforts to reunify a child with his family, after steps
including a court-approved plan involving case workers, the child's
court advocate, parents and others. Four other children who were living
in the home were placed this week with the county agency.
"Reports on the family's progress were all positive and everyone was in
agreement on reunification," Weir said in a statement. "Because of the
serious nature of this incident, I feel it is best to have someone look
into whether, based on the information available, the right decisions were made."
The boy's foster mother blasted the agency.
"I tried to save him," Latasha Tye, 40, told The Cincinnati Enquirer
earlier this week. "The county failed my baby. I told them he wasn't
ready to go. All he wanted was me."
http://www.whiotv.com/ap/ap/kids-family/ohio-attorney-general-child-safety-1st-priority/nFN4Q/

The father of a 2-year-old boy who was killed last week has been indicted for murder.


Antrone Smith, 29, is accused of killing
DeMarcus Jackson on Oct. 21. He was indicted for aggravated murder,
murder and felonious assault.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe
Deters announced the indictment on Friday, and said that he will be
seeking the death penalty against Smith.

Deters also announced the indictment of
DeMarcus' mother, Latricia Jackson, 22, on one count of endangering
children for a lack of care that resulted in injuries to DeMarcus. If
convicted, she faces 9 to 36 months in prison. Deters said Latricia
Jackson is currently pregnant with her sixth child.

A medical examination revealed numerous
injuries to DeMarcus' left jaw, left eye, legs, arms and midsection.
There were also lacerations above his magic stick, on the back of his neck,
above his left ear and on his left buttocks. He also had an untreated
burn on his right hand. The coroner ruled that DeMarcus died of blunt
force trauma to his abdomen. Deters said he had severe internal bleeding
and his injuries were consistent with being stomped on.

"DeMarcus suffered injuries beyond horrific in nature," said Deters. "It is simply heartbreaking."

DeMarcus' four siblings (ages 5) and younger,
who were living with Jackson and Smith, were immediately removed from
the home and have been placed in the care of the Hamilton County
Department of Jobs and Family Services. They showed now signs of injury.

DeMarcus had been with a foster family, but it was determined in August that he could return to his biological parents.

The foster family is devestated by DeMarcus'
death. The foster mother sobbed as she heard the horrific details of
the toddler's injuries.

When asked why DeMarcus was singled out from his siblings, Deters said Smith believed that DeMarcus was not his child.

The sister of Antrone Smith sent this statement to FOX19:

My family and I are in distraught over this
entire situation. My brother loves his kids and they love him. He fought
for them for 2 yrs. And to have people and news media to portray him as
a vicious murderer is sad. And we are appalled! My nephew died on his
brother birthday where he was being a kid and eating cake and ice cream.
Antrone didn't beat his children nor whip them fearing that he would
lose them again. You have 4 boys in a home where 2 of them have ADHD,
boys will rough house. I was at the hospital when they pronounced my
nephew dead. CPR was performed on him for 30-40min straight! Could that
be the bruising on his abdomen? I didn't see bruises or marks on his
torso, Then to say his hand was put over a stove! Come on! He babysat
his niece and nephews. Also the media did not state that while in the
foster parents care 2 of my nephews had stitches near and above there
eyes. In the picture, the bruise on Damarcus right eye was one of them.
My brother has walked miles to pawn items from there home to keep a roof
over his family head. He has been the main parent in this battle of
custody for his kids. He has shown a great deal in making a better home
for his family. Despite not having much. We can not say why the mother
did not put in an effort in this progress of them becoming a better
family,but we do know how long of a struggle this has been for . Our
family wish that the media and public can please see how accidents do
happen. A murderer doesnt have a heart nor conscious. My brother do he
has 6 kids all under 6 n he love them dearly this is just a mistake
thats shocking to all. I would also like to say to the public that there
are cases out here that people have murdered and buried the child and
did not do any time another is a case where a baby was shook to death
and only got 10 yrs. And much more this is an actually accident in
which he has great remorse for what he did our family is suffering not
only the lost of a child but the lost of a brother please do not bring
upon another death to our family.
http://www.fox19.com/story/15898863/father-indicted-for-toddlers-death-mother-also-charged

AVONDALE - The 2-year-old boy viciously beaten to
death two months after Hamilton County Department of Job and Family
Services returned him to his biological parents was laid to rest Monday
amid messages of faith, forgiveness and peace.

About 40 mourners, mostly members of his foster family and their
relatives and friends, gathered at Rockdale Baptist Church, 539 Forest
Ave., Avondale to honor Damarcus Jackson.

The toddler died Oct. 21 from a severe beating over a long period of
time Cincinnati police say was at the hands of his father, Antrone
Smith.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters has said Damarcus was
“subjected to abuse and torture you wouldn’t get at a prisoner of war
camp.”

Smith could be put to death if convicted of the murder.

In eulogizing the little boy, the Rev. Greg Simpson urged the crowd
to have faith in God and to trust in His will - even if they couldn’t
understand it, such as the circumstances of Damarcus’ death.

“We just have to thank God Damarcus was with us, his little smile and
warm spirit,” said Simpson, an associate minister at New Vision
Missionary Baptist Church in Norwood. “He was a wonderful child. He
impacted life. God makes the flowers that grow, but even flowers are
picked. Sometimes flowers are picked before they are fully blossomed,
but it is still a flower. Damarcus was one of God’s flowers.

“People makes mistakes, but we have to learn to forgive,” he
continued. “When we judge others, God says we are going to be judged by
the same measure.”

Damarcus lay in a small casket at the front of the church, dressed in
beige suit pants, matching vest, blue shirt and a tie. Stuffed animals
surrounded his body.

Family members of the late civil rights giant Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth
donated two large arrangements of lilac and white roses leftover from
his memorial service in Cincinnati on Saturday.

One arrangement adorned each side of the toddler’s 48-by 18-inch plastic casket.

Large tapestry blankets hung nearby. The funeral home handling
arrangements, J.C. Battle & Sons of Avondale, is known for creating
the blankets as keepsakes for family members.

Damarcus’ were made with eight miles of woven thread based on two
photos: one of him sitting in a wooden rocking chair with a wide smile
on his face and a second showing him sitting in a row with his three
older brothers.

When his foster mother, Latasha Tye of Western Hills, came into the
church, she began sobbing loudly and had to be supported by a male
relative. She prayed at Damarcus’ side for several minutes, walked out,
went straight to the restroom and began violently retching.

Once Tye composed herself and returned to the church, she approached
Smith’s relatives, hugging his mother and brother and two great
aunts sitting behind them. They held hands and appeared to be praying
together for a brief moment.

Tye addressed the crowd, reading from “Dear God,” his favorite book,
the one she read to him at least “20 times a day,” the one whose pages
stuck together Monday as she turned them, still sticky with popsicles
Damarcus ate as he held it.

“The first day I got Damarcus, my heart cried out,” she said. “I knew
he was a blessing in my life because my husband and I did not have
children of our own. I loved that baby from the bottom of my heart.”

Her husband, Joe, also spoke: “This is a sad situation that happened
to little Damarcus. He is in God’s hands now. All we can do is keep him
in our prayers.”

A tribute video featuring photos of the boy played during his funeral
as the song “Jesus Loves Me” played. The photos showed Damarcus in the
loving arms of his foster parents, dressed up as Spiderman last
Halloween, eating his dinner with a fork and frolicking in a pool.

In all of the photos, the cherubic, beaming toddler looked happy and healthy.

In the last photo taken of him, just before he was returned to his
biological parents in August, he was sitting on a pony, wearing a cowboy
costume.

Shona Harris, an aunt of Tye’s, was one of dozens of family members
who attended the services to support his grieving foster mother.

“We just don’t want this to happen to anymore innocent children,”
Harris said. “My niece did everything in her power to save Damarcus. It
was hard getting her here today. She kept breaking down saying ‘I never
thought I would be getting dressed to go see my baby for the last
time.’”

Stricken by the tragic details of the boy’s death, total strangers also turned out to comfort the foster family.

That included Thomas Crawford Jr., 55, of Avondale, who sang “His Eyes on the Sparrow,” during the service.

“He is in a better place now,” Crawford told the Tyes of their former foster son. “He doesn’t have to suffer anymore.”

Damarcus will be cremated, and his remains will be given to his
biological family, said Lynwood Battle, funeral director and part owner
at J.C. Battle & Sons.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center donated money to pay
for the funeral services. Costs aside, Battle said the funeral home
focused on ensuring the child had the best and most honorable services.
They closed out with a release of six balloons as “Lullabye and
Goodnight” played.

“There has just been an outpouring of concern and support for the
family,” Battle said Monday. “We are not letting the cost stand in the
way of having a very joyous celebration. He is entitled to a good home
going. This will begin the healing process for his family and the
community.”

His mother, Latricia Jackson, 22, who is pregnant with her sixth child, was absent from her son’s funeral.

She faces a child endangering charge for allegedly permitting the abuse to continue.

The children were removed from their home in 2009 and placed in
foster care until August. Jackson was in foster care since he was eight
days old.

A Hamilton County Juvenile Court magistrate placed him back with his parents in August with no objection from social workers.

Jackson has told authorities she wanted her children back for the welfare check.

Three investigations are ongoing into the circumstances of the toddler’s death.
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/news/2011/10/31/funeral-today-for-damarcus-jackson/

A father accused of beating his two year old son to death appeared in
court today. For the first time, the suspects mother spoke, saying she
believes her son could not have killed his little boy.

Antrone
Smith is accused of beating his two year old son Damarcus Jackson to
death in the family's Westwood apartment on October 21. The boy's
mother, Latricia Jackson, faces child endangering charges for allegedly
allowing the abuse to happen. Prosecutors say Damarcus suffered burns
and severe internal injuries at the hands of his father.

Smith
appeared in court for the first time today, looking somber, and at times
almost sleepy. His defense attorney entered a plea of not guilty on
his behalf.

Antrone's family says he was a provider who used his
11th grade education to find a job to support family working at
McDonald's and Kroger.

Smith and Jackson lost custody of their
Damarcus and his siblings around the time Damarcus was born. The
children were placed back in the couple's home just two months before
the boy died. Prosecutors say the couple only wanted to get the
children back so they could receive government welfare payments. But
Smiths' family says the idea that is false. Prosecutors also say Smith
may have beaten Damarcus and not abused his other children, because he
believed Damarcus was not his biological child. But Damarcus's
grandmother, Florence Smith, says her son never have fought to reclaim
custody of Damarcus if he suspected the boy was not his,

Florence
Smith says Antrone was good father and told Local 12, "My grandson is
gone and I'm about to lose my son. Only thing a mother can do is pray
and hope that everything comes out and everything works out the way it's
supposed to work out but I don't believe my son done this."

Smith will next appear in court on December 1st. Latricia Jackson will be arraigned Thursday morning.
http://www.local12.com/mostpopular/story/Grandmother-of-Murdered-Boy-My-Son-Did-Not-Do-This/MggVx5FA-UqN9XmfJ9-0nw.cspx

For the first time, the mother of the two year old murder victim to face
charges for her alleged role in her son's death. Latricia Jackson
faces a charge of child endangering for allegedly permitting the boy's
father, Antrone Smith, to torture their child to death.

Damarcus
Jackson died on October 21st. Prosecutors say his father, Antrone Smith,
burned and stomped the boy to death. Smith is held on half a million
dollars bond and could face the death penalty if he's convicted of the
crime.

Local 12 News Reporter Tiffany Wilson was in court today
and says Latricia Jackson's attorney told her that when she was a
child, a dog bit Latricia in the head. Since then, he says she has
had developmental issues.

Her attorney believes Antrone
Smith controlled her - telling her everything from when to have babies
to what to do. When she walked into the courtroom today cuffed and in
prison clothes - she was completely calm. You could see the outline
of her pregnant belly and the judge asked how far along she was.
She's 22 years old and six months pregnant with her sixth child -
Damarcus Jackson was her fourth child.

The prosecutor told
the judge if Jackson had called a doctor and tried to help little
Damarcus, he might be alive today. Judge Norbert Nadel gave her a
$150,000 secure bond - meaning she would need to post the full amount,
not just ten percent. Her defense attorney says of the bond,
"Realistically any kind of bond would have been high, she has no assets
at all, she was under the other defendants thumb her entire life, since
she was 14, she had no money, she had developmental issues so any bond
would have been enough to hold her."

The judge asked Latricia if
she or Antrone worked to provide for their family. She said no, they
depended on government checks. This directly contradicts what
Antrone's family told Local 12 earlier this week - they said he provided
for the family and didn't need the kids to get Social Security support.


The judge set Jackson's next court date for November 16th. He wants to hear from Job and Family Services at that time.
http://www.local12.com/mostpopular/story/Mother-of-Murdered-Toddler-Makes-First-Court/rcI4U1IdDkG5dEcXF_xoHw.cspx

I wish there were a law to sterilize people like this! OMG she is only 22 and pregnant with her 6th child!!! They just got their kids back from being gone almost 2 years and then they kill one within 2 months. Neither one is fit and should never have kids again. Something is wrong with our system that pays people to have kids.

The mother of murdered two-year-old DeMarcus Jackson is in protective
custody after receiving death threats in connection to her son's
alleged death by abuse , CBS affiliate WKRC reports. Latricia
Jackson is charged with child endangering for failing to protect
Demarcus from his father, Antrone Smith, who is charged with beating the
boy to death. Jackson's charge carries a possible sentence of up to
three years.
The two-year-old died Oct. 21 from blunt force to
his abdomen, investigators say. DeMarcus had been living with a foster
family, but was returned to his birth parents in August. He was dead two
months later.
Prosecutors say that before he died the child
suffered numerous injuries, including multiple bruises and cuts, and an
untreated burn.
Twenty-two-year-old Latricia Jackson is now
expecting her sixth baby, reports WKRC. The others were in foster care
when they were sent back to her and father Antrone Smith. Latricia
Jackson is expected to testify against Smith, who faces a possible death
sentence if convicted in the boy's murder.
Jackson's family says
her diary reveals Smith's control over her, reports WKRC. She wrote: "I
play a role to get my kids back, find a way to leave and be happy."
Relatives reportedly say Latricia has been "mentally challenged" since
she was attacked by a dog at three years old. Her attorney, Norm Aubin,
says she had brain surgery. "He ran her, ran the family. Her lower
intellect is a fact and being abused. She followed along behind him."
The
director of County Job and Family Services, the agency that returned
DeMarcus to his biological parents, and county commissioner Greg
Hartmann ordered an independent system-wide review of the case.
County
authorities say they are required to make reasonable efforts to reunify
a child with his family after taking certain steps, including a
court-approved plan involving case workers, the child's court advocate,
parents and others.
"Reports on the family's progress
were all positive and everyone was in agreement on reunification," the
directer, Moira Weir, said in a statement. "Because of the serious
nature of this incident, I feel it is best to have someone look into
whether, based on the information available, the right decisions were
made."
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57326893-504083/mother-of-murdered-ohio-toddler-in-protective-custody-after-death-threats/

No charges for JFS workers following 2-year-old's death
Deters: employees followed law in Jackson case

Posted: 11/23/2011

CINCINNATI - Workers at the Hamilton County Department of Jobs and Family Services will not have any criminal charges filed against them following the death of 2-year-old DeMarcus Jackson in October, said Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters Wednesday.
Thousands of pages of records relating to the toddler’s return to his biological parents from foster care were reviewed and all JFS workers and court personnel followed the law, Deters said in a news release. Jackson was allegedly murdered by his father, Antrone Smith, after he left foster care.
In these situations, state and federal laws say the “child’s health and safety shall be the paramount concern” but “reasonable efforts shall be made to preserve and reunify families.”
In a statement from the prosecutor’s office, Deters says “the blame in this case should be placed squarely on the parents.”
Deters also is urging Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Hartmann to review the policies and procedures in the process of returning children to their biological parents.
Antrone Smith is currently awaiting trial at the Hamilton County Justice Center. He could face the death penalty if convicted.
The child’s mother, Latricia Jackson is charged with one count of child endangerment in the case. She is due in court in January.


Read more: http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/local_news/no-charges-for-jfs-workers-following-2-year-old%27s-death#ixzz1gWnFwRCH

Mother of Damarcus Jackson appears in court

Posted: Jan 03, 2012 10:02 AM CST
Updated: Jan 03, 2012 10:02 AM CST



CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) -
The mother of a 2-year-old boy who was murdered in October appeared in court on Tuesday.

A very pregnant Latricia Jackson, 22, had a scheduling conference in Judge Norbert Nadal's courtroom.

Jackson is facing an endangering children charge for the death of her 2-year-old son, Damarcus Jackson. Damarcus' father, Antrone Smith, is charged with murder.

Judge Nadal said he wants to talk to the Hamilton County Job and Family Services workers who placed Damarcus back with his biological parents after spending time in foster care. However, Nadal said he won't talk to the workers or begin a trial for Latricia Jackson until Smith's trial is over.

A trial date for Smith has not yet been set.

Latricia Jackson remains at the Hamilton County Justice Center on a $150,000 bond. Another court date was scheduled for Feb. 3.

http://www.fox19.com/story/16435200/mother-of-latricia-jackson-appears-in-court