INGER, Minnesota — A Deer River man has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend's 4-year-old son.
According to the criminal complaint, officers received a report of an unresponsive child at about 5 p.m. on Aug. 21 in Inger, Minnesota. When they arrived they attempted CPR, but the child was pronounced dead. Officers noticed bruising near his eyes and received information that he may have been suffocated to death.
The child's uncle told investigators that he had heard the child crying at about 2:30 p.m. He said he found the child face down on a couch, covered with a blanket. According to the complaint, he said the mother's boyfriend, Kevin Daniel Jackson, 28, was standing over the child wearing rubber gloves.
Later, the uncle heard the child crying and found Jackson holding the child, he told investigators. After that, he said, he heard the mother screaming and asking Jackson what happened. He said she was trying to perform CPR.
The uncle told investigators that Jackson had been staying at their house for the past three days. He believed Jackson may have been using drugs.
The mother later told investigators that she and Jackson had used meth the night before, and she slept most of the day. She said Jackson got into bed with her at about 4 p.m. and said he was sorry he had left. She told investigators she went upstairs and found her son with blue lips, wrapped in blankets. She began CPR and called 911.
When deputies found Jackson he was sitting on a neighbor's trampoline, according to the complaint. When a lieutenant approached him, Jackson reportedly said, "He was screaming." He told the investigators that he was sleeping when he woke to the mother yelling at him and asking why the child was on the floor.
Jackson has a history of convictions including theft, fleeing an officer and misdemeanor assault. Police say he was on probation for a drug offense and has a probation violation warrant out for his arrest based on allegations of failing to attend various drug and mental health treatment programs.
Bail has been set at $2 million for Jackson, and his next appearance is set for Sept. 3.
