Two-year-old Ona'Je Prince Sincere Jackson Jones died on May 4, 2022, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from complications of multiple blunt force injuries ruled a homicide. Minneapolis police responded to a report of a child not breathing and found the mother, Navonna Latina West, attempting CPR; the child was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead with multiple bruises, scratches, and blunt-force injuries. Investigators determined that Otis Lee Jackson, the mother's boyfriend who was living in the home, inflicted the fatal injuries. In the days before Ona'Je's death, the mother observed he was very weak, bruised, and vomiting, but Jackson prevented her from seeking medical care by taking her car and phone. The child's 4-month-old brother was also found with extensive injuries including fractured ribs, burns, chemical burns, and fentanyl exposure. Jackson pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and malicious punishment of a child and was sentenced to 74 months in prison. West pleaded guilty to child endangerment and was sentenced to probation and workhouse time.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
The KSTP article (Document 2) states: "The 4-month-old also tested positive for being exposed to fentanyl." The Star Tribune article (Document 3) corroborates: "His baby brother had similar injuries and also tested positive for fentanyl." While this pertains to the victim's 4-month-old sibling rather than Ona'Je himself, there is clear evidence of child drug exposure in this case.
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)
The vital records document (Document 1) lists the cause of death as "Complications Of Multiple Blunt Force Injuries" and the manner of death as "Homicide." The KSTP article (Document 2) states: "Several blunt-force injuries, bruises, and scratches were observed on Ona'Je." The Star Tribune (Document 3) describes Jackson as "beating a 2-year-old boy to death." Additionally, the KSTP article about the mother (Document 4) states that "Investigators also interviewed three witnesses who said they saw West striking her children."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The KSTP article (Document 2) states: "She also noticed burns on the 4-month-old and asked Jackson if he had accidentally burned him with a cigarette, but Jackson said he didn't know." It further says: "The mother said that she wanted to take the boys to the hospital, but whenever she asked, Jackson would say he had something to do and would take her car and phone." Additionally: "In the days before Ona'Je's death, his mother told investigators he was very weak, had bruises on his side, and was throwing up." Despite the children's visible and worsening injuries, they were not brought in for medical attention, constituting 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?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
The evidence across multiple documents indicates a pattern of sustained, deliberate cruelty to both children in the household. For Ona'Je, the KSTP article (Document 2) states that "In the days before Ona'Je's death, his mother told investigators he was very weak, had bruises on his side, and was throwing up," indicating ongoing abuse over a period of days. The 4-month-old sibling's injuries described in Document 2 — "Multiple fractured ribs," "Large possible chemical burn around and under the belly button," "Four possible burn marks on his back," and fentanyl exposure — point to sustained, deliberate cruelty across multiple children. Jackson also deliberately prevented the mother from seeking medical care by taking her car and phone, further prolonging the children's suffering. The Star Tribune (Document 3) notes that "Otis Jackson has a history of child abuse dating back to his teen years."
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?
The child's legal name is "Ona'je Prince Sincere Jackson Jones" (Document 1), and news articles refer to the child as "Ona'Je Prince Sincere Jackson" (Documents 2 and 3). Otis Lee Jackson shares this surname with the child. Additionally, the Star Tribune (Document 3) states that "Jackson was convicted of assaulting West in 2019, when she was pregnant with Ona'Je," establishing that Jackson was in a relationship with the mother during the pregnancy. However, all news articles consistently describe the child as the "girlfriend's 2-year-old son" rather than "their son" or "his son," which typically implies the perpetrator is not the biological father. The evidence is ambiguous — the shared surname and presence during pregnancy suggest possible biological fatherhood, but the news framing suggests otherwise.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The biological mother, Navonna Latina West, was charged and convicted of two counts of child endangerment (Document 4). The KSTP article (Document 4) states: "The complaint says West 'either attempted to deny or minimize the injuries to her children.'" Furthermore, "Investigators also interviewed three witnesses who said they saw West striking her children." The Star Tribune (Document 3) notes West "entered a guilty plea and agreed to serve up to a year in the county workhouse and three years of probation."
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)?
Otis Lee Jackson is explicitly described as the mother's boyfriend across multiple articles. The KSTP article (Document 2) headlines "Man sentenced to just over 6 years for death of girlfriend's 2-year-old son" and describes Jackson as killing "the two-year-old son of his girlfriend." The Star Tribune (Document 3) confirms this relationship. Jackson was living with the children and their mother and was determined to have inflicted the fatal injuries.
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?
The KSTP article (Document 2) states that "Otis Lee Jackson, 30, was sentenced to just over six years (74 months) in prison" after pleading guilty to "first-degree manslaughter and malicious punishment of a child." The Star Tribune (Document 3) adds that "Prosecutors initially charged him with second-degree murder." Additionally, the children's mother Navonna Latina West was charged with child endangerment (Documents 3 and 4).
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The KSTP article (Document 2) states: "Jackson was previously convicted of second-degree assault toward the mother while she was pregnant with Ona'Je in 2019." It also states: "she knew it would turn into an argument where Jackson would physically assault her." The Star Tribune (Document 3) confirms: "Jackson was convicted of assaulting West in 2019, when she was pregnant with Ona'Je." This clearly establishes a history of domestic violence by the caregiver.
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?
The KSTP article about the mother's sentencing (Document 4) states that the judge ruled West "must take a parenting class within six months and get a mental health care provider." While the court did not describe a specific mental health diagnosis, the requirement to obtain a mental health care provider as a condition of her sentence references her mental health.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The KSTP article (Document 2) states: "Jackson was previously convicted of second-degree assault toward the mother while she was pregnant with Ona'Je in 2019, according to court records." This 2019 conviction predates and is separate from the fatal incident in May 2022. Additionally, Document 2 states: "A prior case from when Jackson was 14 says he claimed he accidentally burned an infant with hot soup, but a physician said the burns didn't look consistent with an accidental burn, according to court records." These are clearly prior criminal history entries separate from the current case.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The 4-month-old sibling "tested positive for being exposed to fentanyl" (Document 2). This implies the presence of fentanyl in the household environment under the parent/caregiver's control. While the documents do not explicitly describe the parent or caregiver using fentanyl, the child's exposure to the substance implies substance use or at least substance presence attributable to the caregivers.
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the text. The Star Tribune (Document 3) states: "Prosecutors initially charged him with second-degree murder. The plea deal called for a downward departure from sentencing guidelines." Jackson received only 74 months (just over 6 years) for killing a 2-year-old child. The KSTP article (Document 2) documents Jackson's history of child abuse dating to age 14: "A prior case from when Jackson was 14 says he claimed he accidentally burned an infant with hot soup, but a physician said the burns didn't look consistent with an accidental burn." Despite this documented history of child abuse, Jackson was still in a position to fatally harm a child. Additionally, Document 4 states that the mother's conviction was given "a stay of imposition in Hennepin County Court that will bring her convictions to misdemeanors if she completes probation." Jackson also exercised coercive control by taking the mother's car and phone to prevent her from bringing the injured children to the hospital.
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