St. Pete Man Charged in 5-Month-Old's Death

A 29-year-old St. Petersburg man has been charged in the death of a 5-month-old boy found unresponsive in his cradle on July 3.

Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies say they charged Jason Anthony Walker of 7140 47th Ave. N. with child neglect Sept. 17. That charge was levied at the Pinellas County Jail where he was already being held on an unrelated domestic battery charge, according to jail records.

Deputies say the child was found unresponsive July 3 and died July 5. The Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy and listed the cause of death as asphyxiation. The boy was found face down in his cradle.

During the course of their investigation, deputies say they determined that Walker was tasked with the child’s care, but left the child “home alone in his cradle on two occasions, for an extended period of time, while ran errands around town,” an email to media from the sheriff’s office stated. “When the suspect returned to the home the child was found in the cradle
unresponsive, lying face down on a blanket.”

The investigation continues as Walker is now being held without bond, jail records indicate.