According to the New York Post, the charges against Jacobs, who was accused of killing his girlfriend's 10-month-old baby, were dismissed after the prosecutor's inappropriate comments to a reporter.

William Jacobs, 22, was accused of murdering his girlfriend's 10-month-old baby, Edward Hayes, by shaking him to death.

The incident occurred in May 2023 in a motel room in Cañon City, Colorado, about 40 miles south of Colorado Springs. Edward Hayes was found unresponsive, and a coroner ruled that he died of blunt-force trauma to the head.

Jacobs was arrested on May 21, 2023, and charged with first-degree murder. He was the last person to care for Edward after the baby's mother and his girlfriend, 21-year-old Brook Crawford, left the two alone while she went to work.

Jacobs initially told police that he was changing the baby’s diaper when Edward "went stiff and began making gargling noises," according to an arrest affidavit.

Prosecutor's Comments Lead to Dismissal

The charges were ultimately dismissed after Fremont County District Court Judge Kaitlin Turner ruled that the lead prosecutor, 11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley, violated Jacobs' right to due process.

Stanley made disparaging comments about Jacobs in an interview with KRDO in August, saying he babysat the infant to "get laid" and mentioned his "pretty awful past."

Stanley remarked:

He’s watching that baby so he can get laid. That’s it. And have a place to sleep... I’m sorry to be that blunt, but honest to God, that’s what’s going on.

Stanley also disclosed that Jacobs had a history of alleged misconduct, including a previous charge for a sex crime and time spent in a juvenile detention center.

Details of Jacobs' Alleged Abuse

Jacobs confessed to prior incidents of alleged abuse, including biting the baby on the arm while playing too hard and hitting the infant's head on the bathroom door frame while trying to make him vomit.

Expert testimony at a preliminary hearing indicated that Edward's head trauma was non-accidental based on the severity and pattern of the injuries.

Jacobs stayed at Motel 6, where Crawford lived, and worked at the front desk. He moved into her room shortly after they met. After the baby was found unresponsive, Jacobs initially claimed the baby "went stiff and began making gargling noises" while he was changing his diaper. According to Jacobs, the baby had also been bitten by a dog before.

Support from the Baby's Mother

Jacobs was released on a personal recognizance bond on April 9, 2023, after Crawford submitted a letter to the court saying he could stay with her. Crawford wrote:

William is a good person. He just needs the opportunity to show you and the community and he has so much potential that is being thrown away in jail. I feel if you just give him the time and chance to show you, you would understand how great of a person he is and will be.

Prosecutor Faces Ethics Complaint

Fremont District Attorney Linda Stanley is facing an ethics complaint and potential disbarment due to her conduct. "This conduct violated Mr. Jacobs’ right to due process. As a result, dismissal of the charges is an appropriate remedy," Judge Turner wrote in the order granting the motion to dismiss.

A hearing regarding Stanley's conduct has been scheduled for June 2024. The outcome of this hearing could have significant implications for her career and the justice system in Fremont County.

Why This Story Matters

This story matters because it highlights the impact of a prosecutor's inappropriate conduct on the legal process and the outcome of a serious criminal case. The dismissal of charges against William Jacobs, accused of murdering a 10-month-old baby, underscores the importance of upholding defendants' rights to due process, even in emotionally charged cases. The case also raises questions about prosecutorial accountability and ethics, as District Attorney Linda Stanley faces potential disbarment for her comments that influenced the case's dismissal.

Conclusion

In summary, William Jacobs was accused of murdering his girlfriend's 10-month-old baby, Edward Hayes, in May 2023. The charges were dismissed after DA Linda Stanley's inappropriate comments during an interview violated Jacobs' right to due process.

Jacobs had confessed to prior incidents of alleged abuse, and expert testimony indicated non-accidental head trauma. Despite this, the case was dismissed due to the prosecutor's misconduct, and Stanley now faces an ethics complaint and potential disbarment.