Minn. woman acquitted in death of 2-year-old son

Published 11:47 am Monday, December 12, 2011

ST. PAUL — A jury has acquitted a Ramsey County woman who was charged in the death of her 2-year-old son.

Twenty-four-year-old Jessica Dominique Caldwell was found not guilty Saturday of seven charges of murder and manslaughter.

She was charged after Julian Williams died in 2009. He suffered internal injuries, including a severed pancreas and torn arteries.

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In a separate trial three months ago, Caldwell’s boyfriend was convicted on one count of manslaughter. Demetrius Willis was acquitted on other murder and manslaughter charges.

Defense attorney Ira Whitlock theorized that the fatal blows came from Willis or Caldwell’s teenage brother.

Prosecutors alleged that Caldwell assaulted her son because he was fussy. Caldwell testified that she didn’t hurt the boy, nor did she see Willis hurt him.