Man Charged with Murder After His Infant Son Dies of Multiple Skull Fractures

An Illinois man was arrested and ordered held in jail by a court in connection with the death of his infant on April 26. Authorities have charged the man with murder and several other felony charges, including domestic battery.

A 27-year-old man from Illinois, identified as Jaden Hearns, has been charged by the authorities with murder, aggravated domestic battery, and aggravated battery against a 7-month-old child. Hearns has been charged in connection with the death of his 7-month-old infant, who died on April 26th.

According to the court documents, the baby was diagnosed with two fractures on different parts of his skull, as well as multiple rib fractures and a broken femur. When the authorities asked Hearns what happened when he found his son, he initially told them that he had no idea about what had happened to his baby.

Police said that after further questioning, Hearns told the authorities that he was playing video games at 3:45 in the morning on April 26th, when he heard the baby crying. He said the baby had been asleep before then. Hearns, reportedly, told the police that he had a bad memory and a bad sense of time frames.

According to the reports of the ABC local affiliate, WTVO, Hearns was on pretrial release in connection with a domestic battery case in which he allegedly strangled the baby’s mother while she was pregnant. Hearns was ordered in 2025 not to have any contact with the mother of his child while he was out of custody.

According to the court documents, Hearns and the woman did not live together, but she often stayed overnight at his home. However, she was not at home when Hearns was watching their son.

The surveillance camera allegedly captured Hearns carrying a firearm throughout the house. Police also mentioned that they found a rifle and ammunition on the property. Authorities said that the baby died as a result of blunt force trauma.