California dad charged with murder in toddler son’s death

MARIPOSA COUNTY, Calif. — A California father is facing multiple charges, including murder, in the death of his toddler son, authorities said.

According to the Fresno Bee, Jesse Ashton, 23, of Mariposa, surrendered to authorities Friday, less than two weeks after they issued a warrant accusing him of murder and assault resulting in the April 2018 death of 22-month-old Bradley Reynolds. Ashton was jailed on $1 million bond, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Deputies previously arrested Ashton on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter April 19, 2018, after Bradley died at an area hospital earlier that week, the Sheriff’s Office said. Ashton, who claimed that the boy had suffered a seizure, was released on bail, authorities said.

“Based on evidence available at that time, no charges were filed by the District Attorney’s Office,” the news release said.

But that changed after officials completed an autopsy and pathology report and gathered more information during their investigation, the Sheriff’s Office said. Authorities reviewed the results in November and issued an arrest warrant for Ashton on Dec. 2, according to the news release.

“The incontrovertible evidence shows that Jesse Ashton murdered his child,” District Attorney Walter Wall said in a statement.

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