Who is Jesse Cook? Maryland man may face decades behind bars for brutally beating his 1-month-old son to death
FREDERICKS COUNTY, MARYLAND: A Maryland man named Jesse Cook has been found guilty of repeatedly beating his one-month-old son, resulting in the tragic death of the infant.
According to Law and Crime, a Frederick County jury delivered the verdict on Thursday, September 14, finding the 45-year-old man guilty of one count of first-degree child abuse resulting in the death of a child under age 13 and also, two counts of second-degree child abuse.
What led to Jesse Cook's arrest?
On June 17, 2020, deputies with the Frederick County Sheriff's Office along with emergency medical services responded to a residence located in the 5300 block of Kingsbrook Drive after a 911 call reporting an infant in "cardiac arrest," as per the press release from the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office.
The first responder, who arrived at the scene, located the victim and quickly shifted him to the Frederick Health Hospital where the newborn was pronounced dead an hour after his arrival at the facility.
An autopsy performed on the infant by the Fredericks County Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later revealed that he had suffered multiple wounds to his body that were "consistent with non-accidental trauma."
The wounds included "approximately 20 healing broken ribs, a prior abdominal injury, and a new abdominal injury that ultimately led to the infant’s death at just one month and 26 days old."
The medical examiner determined that the injuries were the result of blunt force trauma and ruled the child's death a homicide, according to the press release.
Investigating detectives from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office discovered evidence implicating Cook, the infant's father, in the tragic death.
The suspect had sent "numerous concerning text messages and searched numerous concerning subjects related to the infant child," the release stated.
How many years will Jesse Cook spend in prison?
In addition to the digital evidence, several witnesses informed investigators that they had witnessed Cook being "rough" with his one-month-old son.
"These are the cases that keep you up at night realizing what some people are capable of," stated state’s Attorney Charlie Smith.
"This poor baby knew nothing but hate and abuse in this world. Jesse Cook is the reason we have prisons, and we will do everything within our power to make sure he is in one for many, many years," Smith added.
Cook, whose sentencing hearing is yet to be scheduled, now faces the prospect of decades behind bars.
For the abuse resulting in the death charge, he could receive a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison for each of the other abuse charges, he may face 15 years.