A Wilson County jury took just over two hours to find a man guilty for the death of his infant daughter. Jesse Craddock, 40, was convicted of first-degree murder at the conclusion of a three-and-a-half-day trial for causing the death of the child due to severe neglect of the infant. The basis of the neglect was that Craddock consumed the powerful drug fentayl while caring for the child, and as a result of the consumption, Craddock collapsed unconscious on top of the infant causing death by suffocation. The collapse was recorded on a surveillance video camera, which was introduced as a key exhibit at the trial.
“It is a terribly sad case when a baby dies,” stated Jason Lawson, District Attorney. “Any person caring for a child must refrain from illegal drug use. The results can be catastrophic, even to the death of the child.”
Craddock will be sentenced on November 17 for convictions of First-Degree Murder, Aggravated Child Neglect, and Possession of Schedule II fentanyl. The State proceeded under a legal theory known as the ‘felony murder rule’, wherein if a person commits a dangerous felony, and another person dies during the commission of that dangerous felony, the actor is guilty of first-degree murder for the death even though he or she did not have an intent to kill. In this case, the dangerous felony was Aggravated Child Neglect, meaning the neglect of the care of the child to the degree that it caused serious injury to the child.
“Deputy District Attorneys Tom Swink and Justin Harris did an outstanding job presenting the proof,” said Lawson. “They fought for justice for this child, who lost her life due to the irresponsible and reprehensible behavior of the caregiver.”
Lawson also gave credit to the Lebanon Police Department. “It was a powerful statement to me how many of the members of the Lebanon Police Department came and observed parts of this trial. It truly shows how much this police force cares about this city,” noted Lawson. “The amount and quality of the work that the police put into this case reflected their dedication and professionalism. Seeing it through the way they did reflected their heart.”
Detective Nate Beatty was the lead investigator on the case for the Lebanon Police Department. “Detective Beatty was at the hospital when this child was pronounced dead, and he committed to be the voice of this victim throughout the case. He did a fantastic job putting the pieces of this case together for the presentation to the jury,” said Deputy District Attorney Tom Swink.
The trial saw testimony from members of the Wilson County Emergency Management Agency, the Office of the Medical Examiner, medical personnel from Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital, officers of the Lebanon Police Department, and agents of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The state also called an expert witness who explained the effects of fentanyl on the body.
“At the end of every trial, we place the case in the hands of the jury and ask for a just verdict,” said Deputy District Attorney Justin Harris. “It is only because the members of this jury did their jobs properly that we can receive justice for this little girl.”