Sentenced: Mom's Boyfriend Claimed 5YO Boy Fell Multiple Times While In His Care

[Sugar Cookie]

A Blue Ridge man has been arrested for the August 2023 death of a 5-year-old boy.

Zachary Alan Bishop, 33, was indicted by a grand jury on charges of felony child endangerment and murder.

According to the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to reports of an unresponsive boy on August 2, 2023.

Botetourt County Department of Fire and EMS transported the boy to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he died two days later.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner performed an autopsy and ruled the boy’s death a homicide, deputies say.

Blue Ridge man indicted for murder of 5-year-old boy

A Blue Ridge man has been arrested for the August 2023 death of a 5-year-old boy.

www.wdbj7.com

The death of a 5-year-old boy in August 2023 is now being ruled a murder.

The first time Trey Ward saw his son, Jackson, in over three years was when he was on life support in a hospital bed.

“I’m still in that room with him,” said Ward. “I still see that bed and him in it every day.”

Ward says his wife took Jackson and their daughter across state lines in 2020. He says he contacted Virginia authorities, worried about their safety, but he was told nothing could be done.

“In my opinion, the state of Virginia has failed my son,” added Ward.

Then in August 2023 – Ward’s nightmares become reality. Deputies responded to a call of an unresponsive child in a home on Blue Ridge Springs Road in Botetourt County. Law enforcement say Jackson was brain dead when he arrived at the hospital- and taken off life support two days later.

“I can’t imagine how horrified he must have been during that time,” said Ward.

The medical examiner’s office ruled his death a murder and said he died from complications due to blunt trauma force to the head and spine.

Almost 8 months after Jackson’s death – his mother’s boyfriend Zachary Alan Bishop was arrested and charged with murder and child endangerment.

Officials say Bishop claimed Jackson fell multiple times while in his care and complained about having a headache. Doctors told officials there was no way the boy’s injuries occurred during a slip and fall. They said his injuries showed signs of possible strangulation.

Doctors told officials they believe Jackson could have survived if there had been an intervention.

WDBJ7 EXCLUSIVE: “I’m still in that room with him.” Father seeks justice for 5-year-old son’s murder

“I can’t imagine how horrified he must have been during that time,” said Ward.

www.wdbj7.com

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Jackson

 

[Aedia]

Even if that bs were true, he should still be charged. How negligent do you have to be to see a 5 year old, who is complaining of a headache, just falling over constantly and not call for help long before he is unconscious?!
He's looking rough and we can only hope that downward trend is continued...with some inmate assistance.

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Aug. 13, 2025

Zachary Alan Bishop was sentenced on a charge of felony murder to 40 years, suspended after 15 years. He was given five years of supervised probation upon his release from incarceration and will be required to be of good behavior for 40 years. The court also ordered that he have no unsupervised contact with minors.

Bishop, 33, had been indicted by a grand jury on charges of felony child endangerment and murder.

Man sentenced to prison for death of 5-year-old boy

Zackary Alan Bishop was sentenced Tuesday on a charge of felony murder in Botetourt County Circuit Court.

www.wdbj7.com

Current Prison Sentence​

Charge Description	Offense Date	Sentence Date	Case #	Court Location	Offense Class/ Category	Sentence Length	Sentence Suspended
Murder: Homicide	08/04/2023	08/12/2025	24000092-F	Botetourt Circuit	Unclassified, Felony	40 years.	25 years susp.

Release Date:

06/28/2038

 

[runninfawn]

what is it about sentence suspended shit.... this poor boy didn't get a chance of having his death suspended for so many years he got death right away no making it at another date ... my gosh this world is upside down ........ we reward bad behavior and make is like victims lives don't matter as long as criminals are treated gently .... grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr and getting on with their lives while the victims have to live the rest of their lives with what happened to them or in worse scenerios they die... but oh the poor criminals we can't have them thraumatized they have to have a chance at their best lives after all it seems to say that victims have asked for it so why punish the ones that gives then what they ask for grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr