Mother and boyfriend are accused of abusing 3-year-old son for WEEKS before killing him: Child suffered broken rib, stab wounds to the head and brain swelling before his death
- Erica Dotson, 27, and Joshua Manns, 25, indicted on first-degree murder charges
- Manns reportedly called Dotson on June 11, and told her Jameson had drowned
- No trial date has been set, but both also face charges of aggravated child abuse
A mother and her boyfriend have been accused of abusing her 3-year-old son for weeks before killing him as prosecutors seek death penalty.
Erica Dotson, 27, and Joshua Manns, 25, were indicted on first-degree murder charges in July after the death of Dotson’s son Jameson Nance.
On August 19, the state attorney’s office filed a motion of intent to seek the death penalty against the pair, who investigators say are responsible for the child’s death, according to Click Orlando.
Erica Dotson, 27, was indicted on first-degree murder charges in July, alongside her boyfriend, after the death of her son Jameson Nance
Prosecutors described the murder as ‘especially heinous, atrocious and cruel’ and said it was committed after the child had suffered abuse.
No trial date has been set, but in addition to the murder charges, both face charges of aggravated child abuse and neglect of a child with great bodily harm.
Manns reportedly called Dotson on June 11, while she was at work, and told her Jameson had drowned in the bathtub.
But when she got back to her apartment in West Melbourne, Florida, she found that Manns was nowhere to be seen and had never called for medical assistance.
![Joshua Manns, 25, reportedly called Dotson on June 11, while she was at work, and told her Jameson had drowned in the bathtub](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/08/24/10/47033825-9921739-image-a-26_1629797486792.jpg)
Joshua Manns, 25, reportedly called Dotson on June 11, while she was at work, and told her Jameson had drowned in the bathtub
Instead, authorities say, he left her a handwritten note saying he had a seizure while Jameson was in the tub, resulting in him drowning.
Authorities said he wrote in the letter: ‘No one would believe him and he did not want to spend his life in prison for something he did not do.’
The medical examiner, though, did not find any evidence that the young boy had drowned, saying he actually suffered from battered-child syndrome, suffering from weeks-old injuries, including a broken rib, stab wounds to the head and brain swelling.
An autopsy later determined that the child had been abused for at least three weeks prior to his death, according to the affidavit.
![The medical examiner did not find any evidence that three-year-old Jameson, pictured, had drowned, saying he actually suffered from battered-child syndrome](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/08/24/10/47034347-9921739-image-a-27_1629797500184.jpg)
The medical examiner did not find any evidence that three-year-old Jameson, pictured, had drowned, saying he actually suffered from battered-child syndrome
The medical examiner said there were significant signs of hemorrhaging and bruising that were in various states of healing, according to police.
Jameson had also suffered a broken leg last March, and the Florida Department of Children and Family Services investigated another broken leg he had when he was just 1-year-old, according to WESH.
And shortly before he died, the department had gone to his daycare to investigate ‘suspicious injuries,’ like burn marks on his arm.
Manns was arrested in Georgia on June 29, and Dotson was arrested on July 13.
Police believe she knew the abuse was taking place and did nothing to protect the child.