How Could You? Hall of Shame-Jaedyn Ellington case- Child Death UPDATED

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From New Bern, North Carolina, adoptive father Matthew Ellington ” is accused of killing his three-year-old adopted son, Jaedyn.”

“According to the sheriff’s office, Ellington murdered his adopted son. Ellington is the father of three children, his late, adopted son Jaedyn is biologically his brother’s child. The brother lives in Florida and lost custody of Jaedyn at the hands of the Department of Social Services. Ellington then took his nephew as his son.

Deputies say they responded to the family’s home on Dec. 27 [2015]and found the boy unresponsive. We’re just learning Ellington was the one who made the 911 call and told officers a bookcase had fallen on Jaedyn. But medical examination determined that the type of trauma did not match that claim.

Jaedyn had several injuries including severe head trauma. He died on Dec. 30.

According to Lt. Dan Garden, Vidant Medical Center officials called the Craven County Sheriff’s Office after they had suspected foul play.

“Basically they alerted us and said that the injuries they were looking at were not consistent with the stories that the family was giving,” Garden said.

Ellington tells deputies it was a bookcase that fell on top of Jaedyn, but hospital officials say the three-year-old boy suffered from repeated blunt force trauma.

Following Jaedyn’s death the sheriff’s office investigated for seven days before arresting Ellington.

“Interviews have to be done. Evidence had to be collected. We need to be able to prove or disprove the stories and follow the leads. There’s a lot of work that goes into it. It just can’t be done overnight,” Garden said.

Ellington was placed in the Craven County Jail under no bond. He’s charged with murder and felony child abuse inflicting serious injury. If convicted, Ellington could receive the death penalty or life without parole.

Ellington’s remaining two children, ages four and one, have been placed in other households at this time, according to deputies.”

Murder suspect in court for death of three-year-old adopted son [WCTI 12 1/7/16 by Lauren Arnott and Jessica Winters]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update: A search of The Craven County, North Carolina says that Matthew Ellington goes to trial on January 18, 2017.