OCALA, Fla. (WKRC) — A Florida man who was already locked up on child abuse charges is now charged with the murder of that same child.
James Westervelt, 38, was recently indicted in the death of his 6-month-old son. According to reporting from WESH, Marion County Sheriff’s deputies were called to Westervelt’s home in Ocala for reports of an unresponsive infant in August 2024. The boy was taken to the hospital and placed on life support, but died several days later.
Doctors said the boy’s cause of death was blunt force trauma, or shaken baby syndrome, caused by bouncing the child, reports WCJB.
According to Marion County court records, Westervelt was already in custody for allegedly using a leaf blower on the infant in a separate incident, of which there is reportedly video, when the boy was 2 months old. He allegedly told investigators he did it because he thought it was “funny.”
Westervelt was initially charged with second-degree murder without premeditation, but that charge was dismissed and refiled as a first-degree murder charge with premeditation on Thursday.
Westervelt will be back in court in September.
