Jalen Vaden
A man from southwest Missouri’s Carl Junction is accused of killing his girlfriend’s toddler. Jasper County Prosecutor Theresa Kenney tells KZRG radio in Joplin that 22-year-old Jalen Vaden has been charged with second degree murder and felony child abuse in last Friday’s death of 3-year-old Jayda Kyle.
“We’ve alleged that the defendant has committed the Class A felony of murder in the second degree…in that the child was killed by the result of abusive head trauma during the perpetration of a Class A felony of child abuse,” says Kenney.
Authorities allege that Vaden became upset when Jayda hadn’t put on her pajamas, then picked her up and threw her down on the floor, causing her to hit her head on the floor. Later, after seeing the girl still wasn’t dressed, Vaden threw Jayda on her bed and then face first on the floor.
Jayda later died from a traumatic head injury.
By Joe Lancello of Missourinet affiliate KZRG in Joplin
