Tuscaloosa Woman Charged With Child Abuse After Infant Found Dead

A Tuscaloosa woman has been charged with felony child abuse after a 9-month-old boy was found dead Tuesday afternoon, and investigators say additional charges, potentially including murder, could follow once autopsy results are returned.

According to a press release from Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit Commander Captain Jack Kennedy, Ja'keisa Knox, 29, was charged and committed to jail without bond following the death of the infant, who was transported by ambulance to DCH Regional Medical Center at approximately 4 p.m. Tuesday and pronounced deceased on arrival.

Medical personnel observed numerous physical injuries to the child, who was also severely underweight and showed signs of malnourishment.

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Knox allegedly told authorities she was the child's sole custodian and had left him unsupervised at approximately 8 a.m. to go to work, according to Kennedy's release. She said she returned home around 4 p.m. and found the child unresponsive, at which point she called 911.

Kennedy said the nature and extent of the child's injuries indicated abuse and neglect.

Charges may be upgraded pending autopsy results from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, which will establish an official cause and manner of death.

The investigation is ongoing. For more exclusive coverage of crime and courts in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.