GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Jermaine Abron, 25, is charged with felony murder and first-degree child abuse in the death of 8-month-old boy Josiah Guyton.
Police say Abron is the boyfriend of the child's mother. Autopsy results reveal that baby Josiah died of blunt force trauma to the head.
The death happened at a west side apartment complex on Wednesday. Officers initially got a call about an unresponsive baby boy. When they got there, EMS was already administering life-saving efforts. Josiah was pronounced dead at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.
Officers say these types of cases are the most difficult. Abron was present at the time Josiah was found dead. However, charges came about 12 hours later for Abron.
“Although he was there that evening, he was not arrested immediately," Grand Rapids Police Sgt. John Wittkowski said.
The arrest came after talking with witnesses and obtaining further evidence.
“Even though someone may be on scene, and all fingers point to that individual, we need to make sure we have our T's crossed and our I's dotted,” Wittkowski said.
No bond was offered to Abron due to the nature of this case.
“You’re talking about an 8-month-old. Certainly, a harmless child who didn’t deserve any of this. I can’t for one second put myself in the place of those who were involved,” Wittkowski said.
