Trial Date Set For Largo Mother Accused In Death Of Toddler

CLEARWATER, FL -- During a hearing Tuesday, Pinellas County Judge Nancy Moate Ley set a trial date for a Largo mother accused of killed her 2-year-old son.

Charisse Stinson, who turned 22 on April 9, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her son, Jordan Belliveau. The trial date has been scheduled for March 2, 2020, and a pre-trial hearing will take place July 9.

Stinson is also charged with providing false information to a law enforcement agency and aggravated child abuse.

Stinson told Largo Police that she had been walking down the street around 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 1 when she was attacked by a stranger who knocked her out and kidnapped Jordan. A statewide Amber Alert was issued, prompting a massive search as Largo Police followed up on hundreds of tips from the public.

Three days later, Jordan's body was found in a wooded area off Lake Avenue and McMullen Road. Largo Police learned that Stinson made up the kidnapping to cover up the fact that she had killed her son. She admitted that she slapped the toddler in the face, and he fell and hit his head against a wall. The little boy began having seizures. However, instead of seeking medical help, Stinson left toddler in the woods where he died.

Stinson, who was pregnant with her second child at the time, was taken to the Pinellas County Jail where she continues to be held on a $500,000 bond. She gave birth to a daughter in December.

The case sparked harsh criticism about the state's child welfare system and its emphasis on reunification with birth parents.

A few months before Jordan's death, the courts returned Jordan to Stinson's care after removing him from the home and placing him in foster care when he was 3 months old because caseworkers said the baby was exposed to an environment of drugs, gangs and violence.

A child protection investigator from Directions for Living, a child welfare agency that provides reunification services in Tampa Bay on behalf of the Department of Children and Families, checked on Stinson and Jordan the day before the little boy died. At that time, the investigator warned Stinson that the child would be removed from her care if she failed to follow court mandates including getting a job.

Outrage over the boy's death prompted Pinellas County state Rep. Chris Latvala to sponsor House Bill 315 during the 2019 legislative session.

Known as "Jordan's Law," the proposed bill called for streamlining reports of child abuse between caseworkers and law enforcement to better protect at-risk children and setting a 15-child minimum caseload for caseworkers to better monitor at-risk children. Additionally, the bill would require special training for caseworkers and law enforcement to identify potential brain injuries in youngsters.

Florida Sen. Darryl Rouson sponsored a similar bill in the Senate.

That bill passed the House unanimously but stalled in the Senate due to legal questions concerning its language.

In the meantime, Stinson's daughter was turned over to Juliet and Sam Warren, the same foster parents who cared for Jordan from the age of 3 months old until he was returned to his mother last summer at age 2. The Warrens say they hope to adopt the baby girl.

At Tuesday's hearing, Stinson's public defender Allison Miller told Moate Ley that she had hoped to reach a plea agreement with the State Attorney's Office but said doesn't think that's possible now. Due to the publicity surrounding the case, she said she intends to file a motion for a change of venue.

State prosecutors say they have a list of 35 witnesses they may call and extensive video evidence for the trial, which they said is likely to last a week.

See related stories:

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