Minneapolis Man Charged with Murder in 2-year-old's Death
A man is charged with murder and malicious punishment of a child after allegedly causing the death of a 2-year-old and severe injuries to a 4-month-old at a Minneapolis home in May 2022.
According to a criminal complaint filed earlier this week, police were called to a home on the 2400 block of Oakland Ave. in Minneapolis on May 4, 2022 for a report of a child not breathing. Officers arrived and located an unresponsive 2-year-old with the child’s mother attempting CPR.
The boy was transported from the scene by ambulance and, despite all life-saving attempts, he later died at the hospital.
Officers reported numerous injuries to the child including bruising and scratches, the documents said. An autopsy revealed the cause of the boy’s death was complications from multiple blunt force injuries and was ruled a homicide.
> See more of our latest coverage
A second child, 4 months old at the time, was also brought to the hospital for evaluation of injuries, including multiple rib fractures, bruising, a large chemical burn to the stomach and burn marks on the child’s back.
The 4-month-old also tested positive for fentanyl exposure, the documents said.
Investigators assigned to the case determined that the injuries to both victims were caused by the mother’s boyfriend, Otis Lee Jackson, 30, of Minneapolis. The mother reported that she and Jackson were living together with the children and at times would leave the children with Jackson.
The mother told investigators she saw injuries to the victims and wanted to take the children to the hospital, but each time she asked Jackson, he would take her phone, her car and leave the home. The criminal complaint alleges that the mother was afraid of causing an argument and being physically assaulted if she pressured Jackson.
The mother reported that Jackson had physically assaulted her in the past and, according to court records, Jackson was convicted of 2nd-degree assault against the same woman in 2019. In that case, Jackson allegedly rammed his vehicle multiple times into the passenger-side of the victim’s car while she was pregnant.
The court records also note a previous case, from when Jackson was around 14 years old. In that case, he claimed to have accidentally burned a 2-month-old child with hot soup. The child was examined by a doctor, who found the burns were not consistent with an accidental injury.
Jackson is being held in jail, with bail set at $1 million with no conditions. Records show Jackson was granted a public defender and is expected to make his first court appearance on the charges next month.
> See more of our latest coverage
