M.C.
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CANDID ID: AR_22_879
AGE
1   year
STATE
Arkansas
DATE OF DEATH
1/20/2022
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
On January 20, 2022, officers in Fort Smith, Arkansas responded to a 911 call at approximately 8:18 a.m. about a child not breathing at an apartment on North 50th Street. They found one-year-old M.C. in extreme distress in the care of Jared Lee Ball, the child's mother's boyfriend, along with two other young children (ages 3 and 5). The child was transported to Mercy Hospital and pronounced dead at 9:09 a.m. The medical examiner determined the cause of death was multiple injuries ruled a homicide, noting at least one forceful blow to the chest that lacerated the heart and caused hemorrhage into the pericardial sac. Bruises on the child's ribcage were consistent with violent shaking that had occurred on January 19. The medical examiner stated the injuries could not have been caused by a fall, the child rolling off a bed, or by a five-year-old sibling. Ball, who had four or more prior felony convictions and was on parole at the time, was charged with first-degree murder and other offenses, with bond set at $500,000 cash.
Contexts/Conditions

Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?

Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?

Is there any mention of a firearm incident?

Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?

Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)

Multiple documents describe inflicted injuries to the child. The press release/affidavit (Document 1) states: "there was at least one forceful blow to the front of the chest which caused a laceration of the heart and hemorrhage into the pericardial sac." Document 3 (lawandcrime.com) describes this as Ball "allegedly punching girlfriend's 1-year-old in the chest." Additionally, bruises consistent with "violent shaking" on January 19, 2022, were noted on the child's ribcage across multiple sources.

Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?

Is there any mention of medical neglect?

Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?

Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?

Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?

Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?

Is there any mention of sexual abuse?

Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?

Multiple sources explicitly describe violent shaking of the child. Document 2 (nwahomepage.com) states: "there were blue bruises on the baby's ribcage 'that were consistent with the violent shaking…that occurred [on] January 19.'" Document 3 (lawandcrime.com) similarly states: "M.C. had sustained 'blue bruises' on his ribcage that doctors said was 'consistent with the violent shaking that occurred on January 19, 2022.'"

Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?

Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?

Individuals Involved

Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?

Was a biological father involved in the death?

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?

Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?

Was a foster parent involved in the death?

Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?

Jared Lee Ball is explicitly identified as the mother's boyfriend, not the child's biological father. Document 3 (lawandcrime.com) states: "he allegedly beat his girlfriend's 1-year-old child to death." Document 1 (press-release-12622.pdf) refers to Ball as "her boyfriend (Jared Ball)" during the girlfriend/mother's interview. Ball was charged with Murder in the First Degree for the child's death, making him the male paramour involved.

Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)

Was a sibling involved in the death?

Child Characteristics

Was the child adopted?

Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?

Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?

Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?

Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)

Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)

Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?

Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?

Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?

Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?

Parent/Caregiver Factors

Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?

Jared Lee Ball was charged with Murder in the First Degree, a Class Y Felony. Document 1 (press-release-12622.pdf) states he was charged in Sebastian County Circuit Court with "Murder in the First Degree" and other charges. Document 3 (lawandcrime.com) states: "Jared Lee Ball, 32, was taken into custody on Wednesday and charged with multiple felonies, including first-degree murder of a person under the age of 14."

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Multiple documents extensively describe domestic violence by Ball against his girlfriend (the child's mother). Document 2 (nwahomepage.com) states: "she reported that he had been physically abusive with her multiple times in the past. In one incident, she stated that he punched her in the ribs, 'causing her to have pain that lasted in excess of a month.' In another, he grabbed her by the neck and choked her." She also reported that "he sometimes threatens to kill her." Ball was charged with domestic battering and aggravated assault on a family or household member.

Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?

Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?

Document 2 (nwahomepage.com) states: "Investigators reported that Ball had been arrested for Domestic Battery in the 3rd degree in Sebastian County in 2018." Additionally, the Habitual Offender charge in Document 1 (press-release-12622.pdf) states Ball had "previously been convicted of four (4) or more felonies," and notes "he is still on parole." These prior convictions and the 2018 domestic battery arrest are separate from and predate the current fatal incident.

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Document 4 (5newsonline.com) states: "The girlfriend told investigators that Ball is addicted to the drugs and is abusive towards her." Document 1 (press-release-12622.pdf) describes the recovery of "a bag containing 39.7g of suspected Kratom in the kitchen cabinet" and notes "Defendant's girlfriend said Defendant's Kratom and that he is addicted to it." Additionally, two glass pipes with residue were found, suggesting further substance use.

Notable Details

Several notable details emerge from the documents. First, Ball was on parole at the time of the child's death and had a search waiver on file, as stated in Document 1: "he is still on parole" and "has a search waiver on file." The Habitual Offender charge indicates he had been convicted of four or more prior felonies, yet he was still in a caretaking position for young children. Second, recovered text messages and references to the mother believing Ball's explanations for prior injuries and arranging for carpet replacement suggest a pattern of concealed prior abuse, as Document 1 states: "The police have recovered these text messages. The mother believed these explanations, and had arranged for the landlord to replace the carpet." Third, nearly 40 grams of kratom — a Schedule I controlled substance in Arkansas — was found in the home, obtained from an Oklahoma dispensary where it is legal, highlighting a cross-state regulatory gap.

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