DONNASIA JACKSON - 2 yo - Racine WI

RACINE- The Racine County District Attorney's office has charged
Andre Knighton with first degree reckless homicide and physical abuse of
a child.

Bail is set at $500,000 for a man accused of killing a 2-year old girl from Racine.

Prosecutors say 21-year-old Andre Knighton is accused of slamming his
girlfriend's daughter, Donnasia Jackson, into a floor from waist height
several times, apparently because she was crying.

According to the criminal complaint, Racine Police were dispatched to
a Wheaton Franciscan emergency room in reference to a possible child
abuse report.

The child's mother, Cheyenna W. Cheyenna, told authorities her
daughter had fallen over a board going into the house and fell face
first on the ground.

The hospital staff informed Racine Police that the child's injuries were not consistent with the mother's story.

An officer then talked to her boyfriend, Andre Knighton, and noticed
observed abrasions and bruising/discoloration on the top of Knighton's
right hand.

Knighton said he picked up Cheyenna's three kids, dropped two of them
off at the babysitter's then took the other child to 1314 Owen Street
to change her and clean her up.

The child started fussing, so he tried spanking the child, then
"dropped" the victim on her back, and the back of her head repeatedly
while the victim was crying and throwing a fuss.

Knighton stated that every time he went to pick the victim up, she
would squirm and cry. Knighton stated that this action caused him to
throw her down approximately 12 to 15 times on the tiled kitchen floor
with some force from approximately waist level high.
http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/132484653.html

RACINE — Sweet, happy and precious.

Those three words best described 2-year-old Donnasia Jackson,
who died Thursday from alleged child abuse, her relatives said.


“She was just a baby ... a sweet little girl,” said Samuel
White, 29, of Mount Pleasant, and Donnasia’s uncle.

White said he last saw his niece the weekend before her death.
“She was at my house,” recalled White, a musician, managing a
slight smile before finishing. “She was there messing with her
uncle’s things and playing on the instruments.”

About a week later, White was one of 60 people who gathered
Tuesday night outside Donnasia’s home to remember his niece’s short life.

Donnasia died Thursday after succumbing to injuries she suffered
from alleged abuse, including a fractured skull, abdominal bleeding and a lacerated pancreas.

Her mother’s boyfriend, 21-year-old Andre O. Knighton, was
charged Monday with one count of first-degree reckless homicide and
one count of physical abuse of a child in Donnasia’s death. If
convicted on both counts, he faces 100 years in prison. His bond is set at $500,000.

Knighton is accused of striking Donnasia with his flip-flop on
Oct. 19 and throwing her with force about a dozen times. The abuse
was triggered, prosecutors and police contend, when the toddler
started crying and fussing after she wet her pants while in his care.

“She was the most precious baby ... She never cried and she was
always happy,” said Shantaya White, of Mount Pleasant, the
sister-in-law of Donnasia’s mother. “She didn’t deserve to die.”

On Tuesday, teddy bears, balloons and pictures of Donnasia were
placed on a makeshift memorial along the front yard fence.
After a short prayer, many expressed their sadness of the
situation, while some offered hope and condolences.
“Despite her short time here, she touched a lot of people,” White said. “She was an angel.”

Staff at toddler’s day care to hold vigil Thursday

RACINE — Staff at a Racine day care center taught little
Donnasia Jackson to crawl and walk, one said, and now are left
reeling in the wake of the 2-year-old’s death last week — allegedly
at the hands of her mother’s boyfriend.

Cindy Findley, project coordinator at Xcite Child Care Center,
said staff have planned a vigil for 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the
center in memory of the toddler. Donnasia Jackson died Oct. 20 at
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa as a result of
extensive injuries she reportedly suffered the day before,
according to Racine police and court records.

“When we found out the news, it actually hit us hard,” Findley
said Tuesday night. “It’s very heartbreaking. We had to stop and have a moment of prayer.”

Findley said the vigil is open to the public and will be outside
of the day care, at 2711 19th St., Racine. She said staff would
like everyone at the vigil to wear purple shirts and purple
balloons will be released. Pastor Prentiss Robbins Jr. will conduct prayers, she said.

Findley said the vigil was proposed by her sister, Angelica
Rios, an administrative assistant at Xcite Child Care Center.

Jackson and her sister came to the day care center regularly
last winter and into spring, she said, while Jackson’s brother occasionally attended.

Read more: http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/article_1824a632-ffc7-11e0-aaae-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1buAXr3a9

RACINE - A Racine woman remains jailed on $50,000 bond after prosecutors charged her with child neglect Thursday in the death of her 2-year-old daughter.

Cheyenna M. White, 22, of the 1800 block of Grand Avenue - the mother of Donnasia Jackson - is charged with felony child neglect and possession of marijuana after White's boyfriend allegedly body-slammed the toddler to the floor 12 to 15 times, according to the criminal complaint filed in court. Donnasia died Oct. 20 from extensive injuries she reportedly suffered Oct. 19 while in his care, police and prosecutors allege.

"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God. This is just too much," the toddler's maternal grandmother, Jeanette Morris, rapidly repeated when informed of her daughter's charges by The Journal Times.

The alleged abuse reportedly occurred while White was at work.

But according to the criminal complaint, White waited more than eight hours before taking her child to the hospital after reportedly first noticing the girl's injuries. White saw scratches on Donnasia's nose and her swollen lower lip when her boyfriend, Andre Knighton, picked White up from work, the complaint stated. Donnasia was lying on the backseat of his truck, and not in a child seat, these records say.

Prosecutors contend that although White admitted to an investigator there were red flags and she became worried about Donnasia, she sought no medical care until about 12:55 a.m. Oct. 20.

Instead, White and Knighton - whom prosecutors also have charged - took Donnasia and her two siblings to a store in an attempt to buy medication for Knighton, and then back out later to buy marijuana, gas and cigarettes, according to the criminal complaint filed against White.

White's child neglect charge is a Class D felony, punishable by a maximum of 25 years in prison if convicted of this charge.

"Oh Jesus," Morris, 44, of Racine, loudly gasped when she learned of the maximum penalty her daughter may face. "She loses her baby and now this. It's too much. ... She doesn't deserve this."

The drug charge is a misdemeanor.

Court Commissioner John Bjelajac set White's preliminary hearing for Nov. 17 at the Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave. - the same day as Knighton's preliminary hearing. White remains in the Racine County Jail, records there show.

Donnasia's 4-year-old sister and 3-year-old brother attended their younger sister's funeral on Monday, but White did not because she still was jailed on a probation violation. Her older two children were taken into protective custody Oct. 20, and have been living with a foster family in the Burlington area, family members have said.

Knighton, 22, of the 1300 block of Owen Street, remains jailed on $500,000 bond. He is charged with one count each of first-degree reckless homicide and physical abuse of a child.

According to his criminal complaint, Knighton also hit Donnasia with his flip-flop several times on the buttocks Oct. 19, among other alleged abuses. It was triggered, prosecutors and police allege, when Donnasia began to cry and fuss after wetting her pants while in his care.



Read more: http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/racine-woman-charged-with-child-neglect-in-daughter-s-death/article_bce895de-064d-11e1-a00b-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1jkTuYhky

by Laura Matovina
Story Created: Dec 12, 2011 CST

Story Updated: Dec 12, 2011
RACINE -- He's charged with killing his girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter, but is he fit to stand trial?

Andre Knighton will be in court Monday for a competency hearing. His lawyer claims he's not fit to face a charge of reckless homicide.

Knighton has admitted to police he slammed Donnasia Jackson against a tile floor when she wouldn't stop squirming.

Knighton and his girlfriend took the child to the hospital, where she later died of her injuries.

The little girl's mother has been charged with neglect.

http://www.cbs58.com/news/local-news/Man-accused-of-killing-toddler-in-court-for-compentency-hearing-135429543.html

Snipped from the article above:

"Andre Knighton will be in court Monday for a competency hearing. His lawyer claims he's not fit to face a charge of reckless homicide."

He's just acting like a big baby to try to get out of going to jail. What a POS..that poor baby never had a chance and he knew exactly what he was doing when he body slammed her to the ground 12-15 times. I hope both he and the mother go to jail for a very long time.

Knighton competent for trial in toddler homicide

January 18, 2012 5:19 pm
DAVID STEINKRAUS david.steinkraus@journaltimes.com

RACINE — The man accused of killing a toddler was found competent to stand trial.

Andre Knighton, 22, of the 1300 block of Owen Street, is accused of killing 2-year-old Donnasia Jackson on Oct. 19.

On Wednesday Judge Eugene Gasiorkiewicz said a physician found that although Knighton may have some mild, underlying issues, it is clear that he can talk to his lawyer and participate in his defense.

At a hearing in December defense attorney Steve Kohn of Milwaukee had asked for an examination of Knighton’s competency. From the beginning of their acquaintance Knighton complained of migraine headaches including one so severe that it impaired the vision in one eye, he told the court.

Knighton’s preliminary hearing, at which the state must prove that a crime was probably committed and that he probably committed it, was scheduled for next Wednesday.

A hearing for Cheyenna White, Donnasia’s 23-year-old mother, was set for the same day.

White is charged with neglecting a child because Donnasia reportedly went untreated for several hours after White came home.

The state alleges that on Oct. 19 Knighton picked up Donnasia and her two siblings from day care and took them to his home. He noticed Donnasia had urinated on herself, and while he was cleaning her she began to cry and fuss, the criminal complaint said.

Knighton reportedly struck her several times with a flip-flop, but that made her cry more. Then he threw her onto a tiled kitchen floor 12 to 15 times, dropped her against a door, and poked her in the chest, the complaint said. When White noticed the injuries, Knighton reportedly told her that Donnasia had fallen.

White sought medical help hours later, between midnight and 1 a.m. on Oct. 20, according to the complaint. Donnasia was ultimately taken to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa where she died later that day.

A Children’s Hospital physician found the toddler had a fractured skull with bleeding and swelling in the brain, evidence of multiple impacts to head and stomach as well as bruises all over her body, a lacerated pancreas, and abdominal bleeding, according to the criminal complaint.

http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/knighton-competent-for-trial-in-toddler-homicide/article_f87652a0-422d-11e1-b139-0019bb2963f4.html

Toddler's fatal injuries called 'significant,' 'non-accidental'

February 08, 2012 12:16 pm
KRISTEN ZAMBO kristen.zambo@journaltimes.com

RACINE — A court official on Wednesday found cause to sustain charges against a Racine man and his girlfriend, whose 2-year-old daughter died after allegedly being body-slammed to the ground at least a dozen times.

Andre Knighton, 22, and his girlfriend, Cheyenna M. White, 23, also of Racine, were arrested in the fall and charged in the Oct. 20 death of Donnasia Jackson. The Racine toddler died a day after she reportedly suffered extensive injuries while in Knighton’s care — injuries that were described in often-gruesome detail Wednesday during Knighton’s preliminary hearing.

Donnasia’s brain had turned to a jelly-like consistency because of “significant injuries” she received to her head and her body showed signs of hemorrhaging in the head, chest and abdominal areas, Waukesha County Associate Medical Examiner Zelda Okia testified. Donnasia’s liver had a tear in it, she said, and they found “extensive hemorrhaging around the pancreas.”

“You could actually see the pancreas was split in two,” Okia testified. “This is a non-accidental death. There is a significant amount of injuries that led to death.”

Court Commissioner Alice Rudebusch said she found probable cause for the charges and bound Knighton over for trial.

Knighton remains jailed on $500,000 bond. He is charged with one count each of first-degree reckless homicide and physical abuse of a child.

His mother declined comment after the hearing.

Waiving her preliminary hearing, White pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of felony child neglect and possession of marijuana.

Rudebusch set their pretrial hearings for March 2.

According to Knighton’s criminal complaint, the purported abuse was triggered because Donnasia began crying and fussing after wetting her pants while in his care. Police Investigator Kurt Meyer testified during Knighton’s hearing that Donnasia defecated in her second set of clothing. Meyer said Knighton told police he washed both outfits and dressed her in the initial set.

“He was losing his patience and at one point, he took off a sandal of his and struck her with it to get her to stop crying,” Meyer testified. But, “it heightened the situation, is what he told us.”

Defense attorney Steven Kohn questioned whether some of the injuries could have been acquired if Knighton tripped and fell on Donnasia — as Knighton told investigators — while he was carrying her.

“Some,” Okia said. “I would think more the superficial (injuries).”

After allegedly striking Donnasia with the flip-flop, Meyer testified that Knighton said Donnasia threw herself backward when he tried to pick her up to hold her.

Knighton slammed Donnasia to the floor 12 to 15 times from the height of his waist, Meyer testified as Donnasia’s maternal grandmother, Jeanette Morris, walked out of the courtroom with tears in her eyes. Meyer said Knighton told detectives the little girl’s “head was hitting the ground” each time.

“I just don’t see how he could do all that to her,” Morris said after the hearings, eyes brimming with tears. “If she was that much of a problem, he could have brought her to me.”

Knighton had suffered from a migraine that day, staying home from work and going to the emergency room, where he reportedly received a prescription for medication that he hadn’t yet filled, according to testimony.

White remains jailed on $50,000 bond, court and jail records show.

“She wishes it was over with. Whatever they’re gonna do to her,” Morris said of her daughter.

http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/toddler-s-fatal-injuries-called-significant-non-accidental/article_f1dd1a62-5283-11e1-aa92-0019bb2963f4.html

Judge rejects lower bail in toddler death case

April 30, 2012 2:04 pm
DAVID STEINKRAUS dsteinkraus@journaltimes.com

RACINE — The man accused of beating a 2-year-old girl to death won’t get a break on the amount of his bail.

Andre O. Knighton remains in jail on $500,000 bail after Judge Wayne Marik on Monday refused to lower the amount.

Knighton, 22, of the 1300 block of Owen Street in Racine, is charged in the death of Donnasia Jackson on Oct. 19. The state alleges that he beat the toddler to death by throwing her 12 to 15 times onto a tiled floor after she fussed and cried.

In asking for a lower bail, Knighton’s attorney, Steve Kohn, said his client appears to have no criminal record. He asked for a sum of about $20,000. While far from $500,000, that is the most which the family can raise and is an enormous sum to them, Kohn said. And if he is released, Knighton’s mother will allow him to live with her, Kohn said.

District Attorney Rich Chiapete objected to any reduction in bail. The circumstances of this crime are as aggravated as any which have occurred, he said, and if he is convicted Knighton faces a maximum penalty of life in prison plus 40 years.

Although there is no automatic significance in a bail of $500,000, reducing bail to $20,000 would be inadequate to guarantee Knighton’s appearance at future court hearings, Marik said. The potential penalty for the charges he faces is a great incentive to flee, he said.

http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/judge-rejects-lower-bail-in-toddler-death-case/article_6b5ce68e-92f7-11e1-aee4-001a4bcf887a.html