A father with a troubling background of domestic violence has been charged with the death of his son, accused of partially burying the 11-month-old alive. This tragic event occurred months after the boy’s mother attempted to secure a restraining order against him.
John Hannon, 43, faces first-degree child abuse charges resulting in death after his son, John “Teig” JJ Hannon, was discovered with his severely battered face in a ditch, still showing signs of life. Reports indicate that it was a particularly harrowing scene.
Despite his alarming history of violence within the family, including a recent arrest for suspected DUI and an attempt to frame another individual, Hannon had been released from custody just one week before this incident.
San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari expressed concern, stating that this situation highlights failures in New Mexico’s criminal justice system. He lamented the reality that “there is no greater evil than individuals who harm and kill children” and emphasized a commitment to seek justice for such cases.
Allegedly, last month, Hannon took baby JJ for a walk in a stroller around Flora Vista, New Mexico, later claiming to his ex-girlfriend, Crystal Phillips, that he had left the child with his grandparents far away in Colorado, which raised alarm bells for her.
Phillips contacted the police out of concern for her son’s safety while with Hannon, with whom she had prior issues, having sought to keep him away from her children.
Two days later, the baby’s lifeless body was found in a ditch, with parts of him buried in dirt. An autopsy revealed JJ had sustained a skull fracture and other head injuries, indicating he was still alive when buried.
Upon his arrest in an RV, Hannon seemed remorseful at first, stating he “didn’t mean to hurt JJ,” although he also admitted he “hurt him really bad.” Intriguingly, when confronted with images of his son’s injuries, he denied hitting the child, saying, “No, technically not.” At a later point, he acknowledged burying the baby, mistakenly believing JJ was already deceased.
In various interviews, Hannon claimed he had once loved his children but acknowledged he had “changed” and made “mistakes” regarding JJ.
His history of domestic violence includes multiple arrests dating back to 2022, marking a pattern of aggression, such as assaulting Phillips’ teenage son and even striking Phillips herself.
Phillips’ attempts to obtain a restraining order were thwarted when she did not appear in court, allowing Hannon continued access to her and the children.
Hannon’s legal defense argues that he is not fit to stand trial, citing concerns about his understanding of the charges he faces and reported memory issues. As of now, he remains in custody as evaluations proceed.
