A Colorado man charged with killing his girlfriend’s 10-month-old baby had the charges dropped this week after a judge ruled that the lead prosecutor violated his due process rights by telling a reporter that he only looked after the baby “so he could have sex.”
William Jacobs, 22, is accused of shaking and killing baby Edward Hayes, who was found unresponsive in a motel room in Canon City, about 40 miles south of Colorado Springs, in May 2023, according to local reports.
Fremont County District Court Judge Kaitlin Turner entered an order Wednesday granting the motion to dismiss after the district attorney prosecuting the case gave a shocking interview that was smearing against the suspect. The Canon City Daily Record.
Jacobs was the last person to care for Edward after the baby’s mother and Edward’s girlfriend, 21-year-old Brooke Crawford, left for work, leaving them both behind.
The medical examiner determined the baby died from blunt force trauma to the head. The man was arrested May 21 and charged with first-degree murder.
However, the charges were ultimately dropped after 11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley, in an interview with local news outlets, called the incident a “government outrage.” The judge handed down the sentence.
“To be frank, he [referring to Mr. Jacobs] “There’s zero investment in this child. Zero,” the prosecutor said. He told KRDO In August. “He’s taking care of the baby so he can have sex. That’s it. And a place to sleep.”
“I’m sorry to be so blunt, but honestly, that’s the reality,” she added.
Stanley also told reporters during the interview that Jacobs has a “pretty bad history of fondling his mother… that’s not OK… it’s just weird… there’s no way a child would fondle his mother.”
The prosecutor also said the defendant had a “violent history,” having previously been charged with sex offences and served time in juvenile detention.
“This action violated Mr. Jacobs’ right to due process, therefore, dismissal of the charges is the appropriate remedy,” Turner wrote.
Jacobs was staying at the Motel 6 where Crawford lived and worked at the front desk, and according to local reports, Jacobs moved into Crawford’s room soon after meeting her.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by the Journal, Jacobs initially told police she was changing the baby’s diaper after the baby was found unresponsive when Edwards “stiffened and began making gurgling noises.”
Jacobs confessed to previously abusing the baby, including biting its arms while playing roughly with it and slamming its head into the bathroom door frame while trying to make it vomit in the toilet. The baby had also been bitten by dogs before, Jacobs said.
During the preliminary hearing, the court heard expert testimony that declared Edwards’ head injuries were not accidental, based on the severity and pattern of his injuries, according to the Cañon City Daily Record.
Jacobs was released on bail on April 9 after Crawford submitted a letter to the court stating that he was happy to stay with her.
“William is a good man,” Crawford wrote. “He just needs the opportunity to show it to you and the community. There is a lot of potential that is wasted in prison. … Give him the time and opportunity to show it, and I think you will see what a great man he is and how great he can become.”
Stanley is facing ethics allegations and possible disbarment, and a hearing into her conduct is scheduled for June.
