Honk News (Calera, AL) – An Alabama woman, aged 58, faces serious allegations of torturing and causing the death of a 13-year-old boy under her supervision, who suffered from starvation, abuse, and was repeatedly struck with a skillet prior to his demise.
Authorities announced that Jacqueline E. Adams was arrested last week and is now facing serious charges, including felony murder and aggravated child abuse, related to the tragic death of young Ledarius Johnson in August 2024.
The City of Calera Police Department has announced that Adams was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service following a thorough investigation into Ledarius’ death, which involved collaboration with various state and federal law enforcement agencies.
“Protecting the most vulnerable members of society is a crucial responsibility,” Police Chief David Hyche said in a statement about the case. “Children, the elderly, and individuals with special needs often lack the means to defend themselves, making them particularly susceptible to exploitation and harm.”
Recently uncovered court documents shed light on the last moments of Ledarius’ life and the events surrounding his passing.
On August 8, 2024, authorities responded to a call at a residence on Ivy Hills Circle concerning medical assistance for a juvenile male, later identified as Ledarius, who soon experienced cardiac arrest. Emergency responders worked diligently to provide critical care to the boy while he was en route to Shelby Baptist Medical Center for further treatment. Ledarius tragically passed away from his injuries shortly after reaching the facility.
Medical professionals informed authorities that Ledarius was severely malnourished, with a weight of just 86 pounds at the time of his passing.
“Photographs of (Ledarius) taken after his death depict a severely malnourished and underdeveloped child,’’ Circuit Judge Bill Bostick wrote in an order denying Adams’s bond.
When the boy passed away, his twin brother and two other children, aged 14 and 16, were present in the home and under the supervision of Adams.
Footage captured within the residence during a search operation allegedly unveiled shocking instances of mistreatment.
The footage revealed that Ledarius spent most of his last days on the bathroom floor of the home. Throughout that period, Ledarius allegedly received minimal food and water, enduring numerous beatings from Adams, who used a skillet as her weapon.
During Adams’ bond hearing, a clip reportedly revealed her telling Ledarius that she “doesn’t need him,” while asserting that “he needs her and she has food and he needs food.”
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“The very nature of these alleged offenses, specifically the defendant’s pattern of abuse and neglect of the minor victim resulting in his death, her destruction/secreting of evidence and delay seeking medical attention for the dying child, the apparent probability of conviction(s) and sentence(s) and the applicable enhancement statute(s), all weigh heavily in this court’s decision regarding pretrial detention,” Bostick’s order denying bond read.