A Winston-Salem man has been sentenced to more than 21 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and intentional child abuse that led to the death of his 23-month-old nephew.
Sentencing in Forsyth Superior Court
Forsyth Superior Court Judge Richard Gottlieb sentenced Fernanda Lavon Jones, 37, to serve between 21 years and two months and 26 years and five months in state prison, according to the Forsyth County District Attorney’s Office.
Emergency Response and Child’s Death
The case began in the early morning hours of July 27, 2021, when Winston-Salem police, firefighters, and paramedics responded to a 911 call at a home on Peachtree Street. First responders were told a toddler was struggling to breathe.
When emergency medical personnel arrived, Jones carried 23-month-old Thomas Jones to the ambulance. The child was unresponsive, and despite lifesaving efforts, he was later pronounced dead at 5:05 a.m. at Brenner Children’s Hospital.
Investigation Findings
Authorities learned that the boy had been left in the care of Jones—his uncle—between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. that morning. An autopsy revealed blunt force trauma to the abdomen as the cause of death, and investigators also noted bruises on the toddler’s head, face, neck, and abdomen.
The child’s mother told detectives she had left her son with her sister and Jones so he could spend time with his cousins.
Courtroom Statement from the Mother
In court, the toddler’s mother described her grief over her son’s death but also asked the judge to consider a sentence that would allow Jones to eventually remain connected to his own children.