A jury finds Joseph Patterson guilty on all counts including 2nd degree murder, 1st degree manslaughter @ksfynews pic.twitter.com/ERtehRf7me
— Mark Roper (@MarkRoperMedia) September 30, 2015
A South Dakota jury has found the man accused of killing the son of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson guilty on all counts.
Joseph Patterson had pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and aggravated battery in the death of 2-year-old Tyrese Ruffin. Ruffin was the son of Patterson’s girlfriend and Peterson.
KSFY in Sioux Falls reports that jurors deliberated for almost six hours Tuesday, following two weeks of testimony.
Ruffin was found unresponsive in Patterson’s care in October of 2013. Prosecutors claimed that Patterson assaulted Ruffin while they were alone in an apartment.
Patterson’s defense attorney, Tim Rensch, argued the boy choked on a fruit snack. A doctor who testified for the defense claimed autopsy photos show the injuries suffered by the child were consistent with a child being given CPR after choking.
After the verdict, KSFY reports, members of Patterson’s family had to be escorted from the courtroom because of outbursts.
Doohen's family thanked the jury for the verdict as it left the courtroom @ksfynews
— Mark Roper (@MarkRoperMedia) September 30, 2015
According to the Argus Leader, Judge Bradley Zell will now determine sentencing for Patterson. He could be sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison.
