Second Person Arrested In Child Abuse Case

September 28, 2012

A second person has been arrested after investigators determined he was involved in beating a 3-year old boy who died last week.

Cornelius A. Jones, 30, was charged with one count of aggravated battery on a child.

Nicole Renee Henderson, 27, was arrested last week on four counts of aggravated child abuse after an investigation determined that she severely beat four children with a belt.

The investigation began after 3-year old Markevion Hixon was taken by ambulance to Baptist Hospital Thursday night after he choked on a hot dog. Markevion died just after 7 p.m.

Henderson was Hixon’s legal guardian because his father, Demarcus Hixon, is in jail and his mother is deceased. Pensacola Police Department Detective Shannan Fortenberry said Henderson had been Markevion’s primary caregiver since September 3 when his father was arrested.

During an autopsy on Friday, a number of injuries unrelated to his death were found on Markevion’s body. The injuries were at various points of healing and were consistent with him being whipped with a belt or a cord, Fortenberry said.

Fortenberry said Markevion had injuries on his abdomen, legs, arms, chest, and back in addition to recent injuries on his backside that appeared to be friction type burns on both buttocks.

It was determined three of four other children who live  with Henderson also had been beaten and had similar injuries to those found on Markevion. Henderson said she used a belt when disciplining the children.

The investigation expanded after an anonymous caller contacted the Department of Children and Families hotline and said someone saw Henderson and her boyfriend, Cornelius
Jones, grab Markevion by his arm and beat him after he soiled his pants.

Four children – ages two, four, five, and six – have been removed from the home by the Department of Children and Family Services. Police said the investigation is continuing, and more charges are possible.

Jones remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $250,000; Henderson is being held without bond.

Comments

7 Responses to “Second Person Arrested In Child Abuse Case”

  1. knothead on September 30th, 2012 5:15 pm

    How can I give help to these particular children?

  2. mercyme on September 28th, 2012 11:31 am

    Mandatory sterilization would be more than justified for the 2 adults to prevent them EVER being able to bring children into this world. Hope the little ones get caretakers who love and understand children so they will have a better life.

  3. Sammie on September 28th, 2012 9:08 am

    “”The investigation expanded after an anonymous caller contacted the Department of Children and Families hotline and said someone saw Henderson and her boyfriend, Cornelius
    Jones, grab Markevion by his arm and beat him after he soiled his pants.”"

    If only they had called earlier……

  4. R on September 28th, 2012 8:12 am

    This is so sad to read thank God the other children will hopefully have a better chance at a good life. It’s a shame it had to go this far before something was done these children have suffered because two individuals where miserable with there own lives so they took it out on innocent kids if you can’t take care of your kids give them up for adoption there are tons of loving people in this world who can’t have kids and would give these kids all the love and attention they could ever want.

  5. Trina on September 28th, 2012 7:55 am

    This is so sad I wonder what happened to his mom I feel sorry for his dad i could not imagine going through this locked up. I hope only the worst for these people to bad the caller did not call sooner……….

  6. Just Me on September 28th, 2012 7:04 am

    Hopefully the judge, Social Services, someone in this case will have enough sense to take these children away from these abusers and not send them back into that hell…..Hopefully.

  7. 429SCJ on September 28th, 2012 4:44 am

    Hell on earth for those children.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News