https://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/local/crime/article205918409.htmlMarch 19, 2018
The 2-year-old boy who was beaten, killed and left at Madera gas station has been identified by family members as Emmanuel Burton.
The child was in the care of “family friend" Cornell Jackson, when he died last week, Chowchilla Police Department Lt. Jeff Palmer said. Police are waiting for the autopsy report to determine which injuries specifically caused the toddler’s death, he said.
Chowchilla police believe the toddler was a victim of abuse because of the major injuries he suffered. The incident was originally reported as a drowning by Jackson, according to police.
Jackson called emergency medical responders on March 12 around 9:52 p.m., and said he was on the way to the hospital with a drowning victim. Police said they believe he later stopped his vehicle and left the unresponsive toddler and two other minors at a gas station.
Jackson’s girlfriend, 35-year-old Monica Meza, was arrested on suspicion of felony child endangerment the night of the murder but her charges have since been dropped, court records show.
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