The parents of Jadalyn Barton are now in jail and are facing charges of murder and assault for battering 1-year-old daughter to death who sustained “unspeakable” injuries.
Sarah Hardin, the 25-year-old mother of Jadalyn, and Jonathan Blake Barton, the 17-year-old father of Jadalyn, brought her to a hospital in North Carolina.
Doctors at the hospital said the 1-year-old girl was unresponsive and was declared as dead when she was brought to the hospital.
Two days after the death of Jadalyn, the Robeson County Sherriff’s Office and the Juvenile Divisions Investigators charged Barton, the father of Jadalyn, for the death of the 1-year-old girl.
Hardin was charged a day after for the death of Jadalyn.
Hardin is now facing charges with a felony with child abuse inflicting to serious injuries and Barton is facing charges of first-degree murder and felony child abuse inflicting to serious injuries.
Sheriff Burnis Wilkins of the Robeson County said, “This is such a troubling case that no one would want to imagine.”
He added, “The condition of this innocent infant is unspeakable and was really difficult for our investigators. As the investigation continues all I can
Sheriff Wilkins did not speak in detail as he was “horrified” by the case.
The Sheriff asked the local community to pray together.
The family of Jadalyn released a statement.
They said, “Our family is heartbroken about this terrible tragedy. We were devastated to learn that both parents had been arrested in connection to Jadalyn’s death. Our grief cannot be put into words. We recognize that the focus of the current investigation of both parents is on the circumstances surrounding Jadalyn’s death. We understand that the evidence supports charging both parents (one minor and one adult) in this case. We have faith that the criminal justice system will prevail and justice will be served. As a family, we have spent countless hours grieving this loss. There will never be a day that we are not grieving for Jadalyn.”
A judge has increased the bond amount for Sarah Hardin from $1.5 Million to $5Million.
Hardin is charged with felony child abuse inflicting serious injury.
Jadalyn Barton was brought to the Southeastern Medical Center by both her parents. Officials said that she was unresponsive and had a number of bruises all over her body.