Nadera Watson, 25, lived with 3-year-old Jaquinn Brewton in an apartment at 49th and Chestnut. Paramedics were called to the apartment in June 2011 and found Brewton, who was developmentally delayed and was Watson’s godson, unconscious. Watson told police that he had fallen down a flight of stairs, but the investigation that followed revealed a pattern of methodical abuse involving boiling liquid, a blowtorch and periodic beatings. Jaquinn’s mother left the toddler in Watson’s care when she moved into a homeless shelter with her five other children.
The case was so horrific that it shook up long-time social workers and prompted an investigation into the Department of Human Services’ handling of the case. The Department of Public Welfare report on Jaquinn’s death is here. According to the report, Human Services “missed several monthly visits” to the child. The report alleges that timely visits “could have uncovered the abuse that was occurring in the home.”
Watson was convicted of third-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and child endangerment charges. Watson’s boyfriend, Marcus King, pleaded guilty to third degree murder in August and was sentenced to 10-20 years in prison.
A jury convicted the woman standing trial for the death of her 3-year-old godson in June 2011 at an apartment building near 49th and Chestnut Streets.
Prosecutors have said they will seek a lengthy prison sentence for Nadera Watson, 25. Watson was convicted of third degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, child endangerment and the possession of instrument of crime, according to court documents. The instrument was a small blowtorch that Watson used to burn Jaquinn Brewton’s buttocks during potty training.
Watson earlier turned down a plea deal that would have resulted in a prison sentence of 30 to 60 years. Her boyfriend, Marcus King, pleaded guilty earlier to third degree murder charges.
King testified that Batson repeatedly abused the child, who had speech and developmental delays. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 25.
More details on the Jaquinn Brewton case are available here.
Jurors will begin deliberations today in the murder of 3-year-old Jaquinn Brewton, the toddler who died after his caretaker said he fell down the steps in the apartment building on the 4700 block of Chestnut Street where he lived. A horrific story of systematic abuse emerged during last week’s trial.
Jaquinn’s godmother and caretaker, 24-year-old Nadera Batson, was charged with murder after paramedics responded to the apartment on June 29, 2011 to find Jaquinn unconscious with several bruises and lacerations. He was placed on life support and died two weeks later. Batson said he had fallen down the steps. Jaquinn began living with Batson after his mother moved into a homeless shelter.
Batson’s boyfriend, 25-year-old Marcus King, pleaded guilty earlier to third degree murder charges. He testified that Batson repeatedly abused the child, who had speech and developmental delays.
The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Mike Newell published a harrowing story yesterday that outlines the prosecution’s case. The story details routine abuse that included beatings and punishment involving a blowtorch.
Two people were charged yesterday with the murder of 3-year-old Jaquinn Brewton, who died earlier this week from injuries suffered late last month in an apartment building on the 4700 block of Chestnut Street.
Police say Brewton’s caregiver, 22-year-old Nadera Batson, and her boyfriend, 23-year-old Marcus King, systematically tortured the toddler, including burning him with a small blow torch and beating him.
Brewton died on Tuesday after being taken off life support at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he was admitted on June 29 after Batson said he fell down a flight of steps. The 3-year-old began living with Batson, who is reportedly the boy’s godmother, in March. His mother and five siblings were living in a homeless shelter.
Both Batson and King have criminal records. Batson was arrested in 2007 on theft charges and King pleaded guilty to assault charges in 2009.
Brewton was taken to CHOP after Batson said she found him unconscious on the steps in her apartment building. His family asked that he be taken off life support earlier this week. He died within minutes of being taken off.
Neighbors interviewed on the day Brewton was found said they suspected abuse at the apartment, but never reported it.
Three-year-old Jaquinn Brewton, the boy who was hospitalized after his caregiver said he fell down a flight of stairs late last month, died Tuesday within minutes of being taken off life support. After an autopsy last night revealed that his injuries were due to “blunt force trauma,” his death was ruled a homicide.
Police say no charges have been filed yet.
Brewton’s caregiver, who has been described as a “family friend,” told police that she found him unconscious on the steps of an apartment building on the 4700 block of Chestnut Street on June 29. She told police he had fallen down the stairs.
Brewton’s mother, who was staying in a homeless shelter at the time, has alleged that Brewton was abused. She has said that doctors told her that the boy had been burned on various parts of his body.
The 3-year-old boy who was critically injured 11 days ago after his caregiver said he fell down a flight of stairs in an apartment building on the 4700 block of Chestnut Street will reportedly be taken off of life support today. He is not expected to survive.
Jaquinn Brewton was taken to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia on June 29 with severe head injuries. The child’s caregiver said he fell down a flight of steps, but neighbors said at the time that they suspected abuse. The caregiver, who has not been named, was a “family friend,” according to reports. The boy’s mother was living in a homeless shelter with her four other children at the time, 6ABC is reporting.
Police have not yet filed charges in the case, but are still investigating. Brewton’s family has made serious abuse allegations against the child’s caregiver.
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