Father who let toddler son spend time in Pack 'n Play with snakes before he died with cocaine in his system is headed to prison

A Virginia antheral volition walk 2 decades down bars aft his 2-year-old lad who spent clip successful a Pack 'n Play with snakes died with cocaine successful his system.

Cinceir Croxton, 25, connected Monday was sentenced to 20 years successful situation for the decease of Cinceir "CJ" Croxton Jr. Croxton pleaded blameworthy past autumn to second-degree murder, child abuse and cause charges.

According to local ABC affiliate WRIC, CJ died connected Dec. 7, 2023. Croxton and the boy's mother, Kahleighya Coleman, were arrested respective months later.

CJ and his parents were staying astatine an Econo Lodge successful Spotsylvania, successful portion due to the fact that they did not privation authorities looking into the attraction of the boy. Croxton noticed his lad was unconscious and called 911. CJ was rushed to the hospital, wherever helium aboriginal died.

WRIC reported that doctors called cops aft CJ tested affirmative for cocaine. Detectives with the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office responded to the edifice room, wherever they recovered cocaine connected a PlayStation and successful an unlocked safe, on with a weapon successful a apparel hamper. In all, deputies collected astir 70 grams of cocaine and $4,000 successful cash.

Also successful the edifice country was a Pack 'n Play containing a reptile cage with snakes, WRIC reported. CJ reportedly tested affirmative for salmonella, which is carried by snakes. When the infirmary tried to dainty CJ for salmonella, Croxton and Coleman refused to let them to bash so.

CJ besides had sickle compartment disease, which needed attraction each 2 months, but helium received none. Child Protective Services began investigating the parents erstwhile CJ was 6 months aged aft the bureau received a ailment that Croxton would permission CJ unsocial successful his car spot with large euphony playing erstwhile helium was fussy due to the fact that helium could not "tolerate him crying."

However, Croxton moved the household from their location which made it hard for CPS to find them. CPS marked the lawsuit incomplete.

Coleman pleaded blameworthy to second-degree execution and kid maltreatment charges past period and was sentenced to 15 years successful prison, WRIC reported.

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Croxton claimed astatine sentencing that helium loved his lad "dearly," but Judge William Glover said CJ's surviving concern "inevitably" killed him.

"None of these actions were accident," Glover told Croxton, per WRIC. "It was a bid of choices you made."