MERCED — Authorities on Sunday provided more info on the arrest of the guy suspected of abusing and killing an 8-year-outdated Hayward girl, like particulars on a few add-ons who assisted him evade law enforcement.
Following a statewide look for, 34-year-old Dhante Jackson was arrested Saturday for allegedly abusing and murdering 8-calendar year-old Sophia Mason. He experienced been on the run for 6 months.
Mason was located dead in a bathtub in March following law enforcement searched his Merced property. Police mentioned family members instructed them the girl was last observed in December.
Her mom and Jackson’s girlfriend, Samantha Johnson, was arrested and charged with murder and child abuse in March. She is in custody in Dublin for prior kid abuses fees from 2021.
For the duration of a Sunday morning press convention, authorities also confirmed that a few female acquaintances were being also arrested for assisting Jackson elude law enforcement for six months.
Police reported the three girls have been charged with accessory to murder after the point for providing “cash, shelter and transportation” to Jackson.
The ladies arrested ended up identified as San Jose resident D’Burkah Johnson, Merced resident Larona Larkin and Newark resident Myra Guiterrez.
Merced Law enforcement Captain Joe Weiss said the Merced Law enforcement Department manufactured the arrest in Newark with guidance from the California Section of Justice Exclusive Operations Device and the Merced Location Gang and Narcoctic Enforcment Workforce (MAGNET).
Merced Police Lt. Joe Perez claimed detectives tracked Jackson’s movements from Merced to the Bay Area, on to Southern California and again to the Bay Region.
More than 20 search warrants ended up authored all through the investigation and hundreds of hours have been expended examining digital forensic information to trace Jackson from location to spot.
Perez also provided some of what he explained as “gruesome specifics” of the circumstance that detectives uncovered during their investigation.
Perez mentioned that Sophia had been dead for in excess of a thirty day period at the residence when her human body was recovered.
In addition to evidence of currently being subjected to continuous bodily abuse, law enforcement claimed Sophia was malnourished and compelled to reside in a yard lose and a closet at the home wherever she was identified.
“In my 20 yrs of legislation enforcement, this situation is the most horrific and disturbing I have seen,” reported Perez. “To know what that very poor minimal angel went by means of at the arms of pure evil breaks my coronary heart.”
The cousin of an 8-calendar year-old Hayward girl who was discovered murdered and abused spoke out Saturday evening about the arrest of a suspect in her case.
“I could not imagine it. It feels like it can be been a long time coming, but I’m so happy they ultimately got him,” explained Mason’s cousin Melanie Verlatti.
“Just recognizing that he was picked up in Newark which ironically, Samantha was also picked up in Newark when they acquired her,” Verlatti included. “So I don’t know if it was form of all over the similar conditions where there was a prostitution ring going on or what, but I know they go him and he is received bail established for a million pounds.”
Merced Mayor Matt Serratto mentioned:
Huge credit history goes to our law enforcement division and our process power, who have worked tirelessly and devoted incredible means very first to investigating the case and now to locating Mr. Jackson. Now the circumstance is in the hands of our court docket procedure, and we need to allow for the judicial system to unfold and belief that it will culminate in a just final result.
The Hayward Law enforcement Division reported in a statemen to KPIX 5:
Even though the case is even now beneath investigation, we want to specific our deepest gratitude to the Merced Police Department and the California Section of Justice for their tireless get the job done to bring this tragic incident a person step closer toward justice currently being served. Our hearts and thoughts keep on being with the relatives and liked types of little Sophia we can not visualize your pain as you go on to mourn her loss.
Condition attorney common Rob Bonta’s office environment also introduced the arrest:
“Our little ones need to be shielded from violence and we need to do anything we can to safeguard them. I want to thank the associates of my workforce and our legislation enforcement companions in Merced for their perform on this quite hard situation, and hope it provides some evaluate of consolation to all those who beloved this younger woman to know that these accused of her murder will now have to encounter these allegations,” stated Bonta.
Verlatti described Mason as a bubbly and playful girl who beloved her adoptive grandmother, Sylvia Johnson. She lifted Mason most of her existence.
“Even however we can not get Sophia back again, I feel like having Dhante is one piece of the puzzle which is aiding to near this case and give us resolution as a family members at minimum, hoping that he’s arrive cleanse and at the very least inform the fact at this point,” mentioned Verlatti.
Relatives users reported recurring warnings and pleas for enable with Youngster Protective Products and services and the authorities fell on deaf ears.
“Allow this be a lesson that she’s not the only a single. We’re absolutely sure there is a lot more young children out there who are stuck in a procedure and they are not currently being taken treatment of effectively. It should not have arrive to this and we will not want it to appear to this for any other little one in the potential,” said Verlatti. “So if you see or know of just about anything that isn’t suitable and a child is not staying cared for appropriately be sure to, please, make sure you tell authorities and do it repeatedly.”
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