Tuscaloosa Man Charged with Allegedly Abused Infant's Murder

A Tuscaloosa man has been charged with felony murder after an allegedly abused infant who has been on life support since April died Wednesday.

Captain Jack Kennedy, the commander of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, told local media that this case began last month when paramedics and police were called to Hallmark at Garden Parkway apartments off Highway 69 South in Tuscaloosa on reports of an unresponsive child.

A 4-month-old there was badly injured and taken to DCH, then taken to Children's of Alabama hospital in Birmingham. Kennedy said doctors told police the baby suffered injuries consistent with abuse and the child was placed on life support in late April.

Kennedy said the VCU developed warrants and arrested 27-year-old Jaquon Ladarrion Stewart the day after the infant was hospitalized and charged him with a aggravated child abuse.

Stewart has remained in the county jail since then, and on Wednesday, the VCU was notified that the infant who had been on life support had died.

Kennedy said the charge against Stewart has been upgraded to felony murder, and the 27-year-old remains in the Tuscaloosa County Jail, where bond has not been set for the murder charge.

Because the case originated in April, Kennedy said the VCU is classifying this homicide as their 12th case in the county so far in 2024.