Troy's first homicide case took police on a four-month-long investigation that landed a Troy mother behind bars.
Police say 20-year-old Kiona Jackson is now being charged with the death of her infant son Jacquez Jackson. Troy Police Capt. Det. John Centanni says Jackson is facing two counts of murder in the second degree and one count of manslaughter.
The case unfolded in June. Police and emergency crews responded to Jackson's Troy home on 7th Avenue when they received calls that a 21-month-old was suffering from cardiac arrest. Shortly after the infant was transported to the hospital, he died. Troy detectives determined the infant's death was caused by blunt force trauma to the abdomen, and that his mother was responsible.
Police said following the trail of evidence leading to Jackson's arrest wasn't easy.
Troy police were led all the way to Jackson's former home town of Valdosta, Ga. There, they spoke with Marian Walton, Jackson's aunt, who witnessed the treatment of Jacquez Jackson at the hands of his mother. She told police at one point her nephew had a broken arm, and the child was left at home by himself.
Marian said she believed Kiona Jackson left Georgia and took the child to New York, hoping to evade those charges.
Police say even though Jackson is behind bars, there are still a lot of elements to piece together before the trial. Jackson is currently being held without bail at the Rensselaer County jail, awaiting her next court hearing.