Pennsylvania v. Woodard

by
Hayley Twinn sometimes called appellant Aric Woodard to help watch her son Jaques. Twinn assured appellant that she would return to appellant's house to retrieve the child, but November 7, 2011, Twinn did not show as promised. Appellant called around looking for Twinn, admonishing that if Twinn did not come get her child, she would be sorry. Police responded to a 911 dispatch where a two-year-old male was under cardiac arrest. The child was wet, naked and smelling of feces. The child was taken to the hospital. While at the hospital awaiting a prognosis, appellant stated that because the child had defecated and smeared it on the kitchen floor, appellant had "popped him," and sent the child to the bathroom to clean himself. Appellant alleged the child was found slumped over and unresponsive in the bathtub minutes later. Appellant was ultimately charged with the first degree murder of Jaques, and he directly appealed his conviction and sentence to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Appellant raised twelve issues for the Court's review. And after careful consideration of each, the Supreme Court affirmed appellant's conviction and sentence. View "Pennsylvania v. Woodard" on Justia Law