MAR'QUELL JACKSON - 18 Months - St Louis MO

St. Louis, MO (KSDK) - The mother of a murdered toddler found in a dumpster has been charged in her son's murder.

The Circuit Attorney's Office charged Melissa Jackson, 28, with
first-degree murder and felony abuse of a child in the death of her son,
Mar'Quell Jackson.

Mar'quell's friends and family gathered Saturday night near the trash bin to mourn Mar'Quell.

According to the probable cause, Jackson is accused of hitting and
strangling her 18-month-old son, Mar'Quell, between May 24 and May 25.

Investigators found the 18-month-old child Wednesday morning after a family member reported him missing.
On Thursday, there was a stark contrast between the bright, cheery
stuffed animals left in Mar'Quell's honor right next to the dingy
dumpster, full of beer cans, other trash and rain water, where his body
was dumped.
Neighbor Mykal McCollier knew there was a problem Wednesday before the police did. He heard it from the toddler's mother.
"At 5 o'clock in the morning she had came to my door and asked have I seen her child," McCollier said.
He had not recently and didn't know them well, but describes them as a pleasant family.
"Happy family. Just a momma and a son. That's all I seen," said
McCollier. "You didn't see no foul play. You didn't see no abuse."
But police say Mar'Quell was badly beaten. About 30 minutes after he
was reported missing, police with a K-9 unit found him in the dumpster
in the alley behind his mother's apartment.
Curtis Lightfoot says he just saw them the other day.
"In a walker, you know how you put a baby in a walker and they just
sit there, just playing and I was joking with the baby," said Lightfoot.

"He was just a happy little baby. When we see him, when we pass by,
he'll be in the door just smiling and shaking his head. No, he was just a
happy little baby," recalled another neighbor, Uniece Akins. "There's
just so much stuff that you could have done before you turn to that."http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/260582/3/Vigil-held-for-child-found-dead-in-trash-bin

News story containing home video of the baby. What a beautiful, precious child. Heartbreaking.

http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-body-of-missing-toddler-found-in-dumpster-20110525,0,5767206.story

Mother Pleads Not Guilty in Death of Toddler
July 14, 2011 2:00 PM

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A St. Louis woman has pleaded not guilty in the death of her 18-month-old son.

KSDK-TV reports that 28-year-old Melissa Shawneece Jackson entered the plea Wednesday. She is charged with first-degree murder and felony abuse of a child resulting in death.

The child, Marquell Jackson, died in May. Authorities say the child was beaten, strangled and then tossed into a trash dumpster. An autopsy showed the child had severe brain trauma, a lacerated liver, several bone fractures and ligature marks on his neck.

Jackson is jailed without bond. Her attorney did not return a phone message seeking comment.

http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2011/07/14/mother-pleads-not-guilty-in-death-of-toddler/

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2011
Judge/Commissioner Time Day Setting Event
JOHN FRANCIS GARVEY 9:00 AM 1 OF 1 Trial Setting
Event Text: Location: Division 16 Carnahan Courthouse
Address: 1114 MARKET STREET SAINT LOUIS MO

https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/cases/events.do

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012
Judge/Commissioner Time Day Setting Event
JOHN FRANCIS GARVEY 9:00 AM 1 OF 1 Trial Setting
Event Text: Location: Division 16 Carnahan Courthouse
Address: 1114 MARKET STREET SAINT LOUIS MO

https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/cases/events.do

Trial Setting Scheduled
Scheduled For: 03/26/2012; 9:00 AM ; PHILIP HEAGNEY; Carnahan Courthouse
Hearing Continued/Rescheduled
Continuance Requestor - Defendant/Respondent; Continuance Reason - Discovery Incomplete
Hearing Continued From: 01/17/2012; 9:00 AM Trial Setting

https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/cases/searchDockets.do