Ja’Keisa Knox, 29, remains in custody at the Tuscaloosa County Jail following her arrest on Tuesday. That day, she encountered an unimaginable tragedy: her 9-month-old son was found lifeless in their home. According to WBRC, a local Fox affiliate, Knox called the police at 4 p.m. on Tuesday after discovering her baby unresponsive upon returning from work—a discovery that unraveled the distressing series of events.
In conversations with deputies from the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Knox reportedly admitted that she had left her apartment at 8 a.m. This timeline suggests the baby was alone for approximately eight hours. Authorities confirmed that Knox claimed to be the child’s sole guardian, and no one else was assigned the responsibility of caring for him during her absence.
The incident took place in a neighborhood that now bears a spotlight due to this tragic event. This brings a somber note to the Tuscaloosa, Alabama area, visualized in part by the imagery of local landscapes juxtaposed with Knox’s booking photo from the sheriff’s office.
Knox reportedly told deputies with the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office that she left her apartment at 8 a.m., indicating that the baby was allegedly alone in the home for eight hours. According to police, Knox confirmed she was the sole guardian of the baby, and no one else was expected to come care for him while she was gone.
Tuscaloosa News reported that the baby was brought to DCH Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Medical staff at the hospital told police that they observed several injuries on the boy, who was also malnourished and underweight. The discovery prompted a call to the sheriff’s Violent Crimes Unit, which is also participating in the baby’s death investigation.
Knox was charged with child abuse, and authorities said additional charges may be added depending on the results of the baby’s autopsy. She is being held at the Tuscaloosa County Jail without bond. Her next court date was not immediately available.