Authorities on Saturday arrested a California man accused of killing an 8-year-old woman whose physique was present in his house six months in the past.
After a monthslong search and an investigation involving the Justice Division’s Particular Operations Unit, police arrested Dhante Jackson in Newark, California, in reference to the homicide of Sophia Mason. The woman’s physique was present in Jackson’s Central Valley house in March a number of days after her kin reported her lacking, state lawyer normal’s workplace stated in an announcement.
The kin informed police they’d not had contact with the woman since December, in keeping with The Related Press.
That report led native police to arrest Sophia’s mom, Samantha Johnson, on a warrant stemming from a baby abuse case the earlier yr, the AP reported.
Johnson shared with investigators particulars of the abuse she stated her daughter confronted from Jackson, which included “being pressured to reside in a shed in Jackson’s yard and struggling sexual and bodily abuse,” the information launch stated.
Jackson and Johnson had been in a romantic relationship, officers have stated.
Court docket paperwork present that Merced police with a search warrant discovered Sophia’s physique in a bath in a locked rest room in Jackson’s house.
Police introduced Sunday that Sophia had been lifeless for no less than a month, that she had been malnourished and that the Merced County coroner’s workplace had dominated her demise a murder, the Bay Space Information Group reported.
The Merced County district lawyer’s workplace charged Johnson with baby abuse and murder and issued a warrant for his arrest within the kid’s homicide. The district lawyer’s workplace will cost Jackson with murder, the lawyer normal’s workplace stated.
Johnson has pleaded not responsible, the AP reported.
It’s unclear whether or not Jackson or Johnson have attorneys. The Merced County public defender’s workplace couldn’t instantly be reached for remark Sunday.
Authorities additionally charged 4 different individuals “suspected of aiding Jackson in evading arrest,” the lawyer normal’s workplace stated.
“The ache of dropping a baby is unimaginable — particularly when that baby was a sufferer of abuse,” Legal professional Common Rob Bonta stated in an announcement. “We grieve with Sophia’s household and family members, and acknowledge that she must be right here with us now — taking part in, studying, and rising up.”
Baby welfare paperwork obtained by the Bay Space Information Group present that Sophia twice informed social employees that her mom had choked and hit her and {that a} trainer and a social employee reported considerations over what they thought have been indicators of abuse.
Sophia’s grandmother Sylvia Johnson final week filed a wrongful demise authorized declare in opposition to Alameda County, alleging the Division of Baby and Household Companies didn’t do sufficient to guard her.
Alameda County has 45 days to reply to the claims, the information group reported Sunday. If the county gives no settlement and the declare is rejected, the household has six months to sue.
