Black Convicted of Battering Toddler to Death

KOLO TV
December 7, 2013

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Donald Jackson was the boyfriend of the child’s mother.

A 23-year-old Reno man has been convicted of murder in the beating death of his girlfriend’s toddler.

Donald Jackson faces up to life in prison after a Washoe District Court jury returned guilty verdicts Thursday on charges of first-degree murder and child abuse.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Dan Greco says Jackson beat 1-year-old Jayden Marion while babysitting with his mother at work in the months leading up to his death in August 2012. Autopsy records show he suffered blunt force trauma so hard it severed part of his liver and lacerated his spleen.

His grandfather, Virgil Thompson, told the Reno Gazette-Journal the family feels that justice has been served but is saddened that it won’t do anything to bring Jayden back.

Judge Scott Freeman set sentencing for Dec. 23.