A Colorado man accused of killing a 10-month-old baby after offering to babysit him is once again facing charges after an appeals court revived the case.
William Jacobs, who was 21 at the time of the May 2023 incident, is accused of killing baby Edward Hayes at a Motel 6 in Cañon City, Colorado.
The case had previously been dismissed after controversial comments from the former district attorney, but the Colorado Court of Appeals has now ruled that the charges can move forward again.
According to court documents, Jacobs was staying at the same motel where Edward’s mother, Brook Crawford, worked as a front desk clerk. The two reportedly met and quickly moved into a room together.
At some point, Jacobs allegedly volunteered to watch the baby.
Police later said Edward was found dead with multiple signs of abuse.
According to investigators, Jacobs admitted to biting the baby “while playing with him” and hitting him on the head while trying to get him to throw up.
A nurse who was staying in a neighboring motel room reportedly heard what was happening and eventually saw the baby’s condition. She called 911 and began CPR after finding Edward unresponsive.
The baby was flown by medical helicopter to Children’s Hospital in Colorado Springs, where he was pronounced dead.
Jacobs was arrested on a felony child abuse charge before the baby was pronounced dead. Prosecutors later added a first-degree murder charge.
Crawford, who was 20 at the time, was charged with felony child abuse, though prosecutors later reduced that charge to a misdemeanor. She was reportedly working when police arrived at the motel.
Crawford pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor child abuse and a separate animal cruelty charge. Her case had been scheduled for trial, but the proceedings were suspended, leaving her in legal limbo for about two and a half years.
Jacobs’ case was previously thrown out after then-11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley gave an interview about the investigation and made comments a judge later found problematic.
Stanley said Jacobs had “zero investment” in the child and claimed he only offered to babysit so he could “get laid” and have a place to sleep.
Stanley was later disciplined over those comments and remarks she made in other cases. She was ultimately disbarred and can no longer practice law in Colorado.
After Stanley was replaced by Jeff Lindsey, prosecutors appealed the dismissal.
On Thursday, all three members of the Colorado Court of Appeals agreed that the case should be reinstated.
Judge Elizabeth L. Harris wrote that although the court did not condone Stanley’s conduct, the dismissal of the case was not warranted.
“We do not condone Stanley’s actions in this case,” the opinion said. “And while her conduct might be considered ‘outrageous’ in the ordinary sense, we conclude that it does not satisfy the stringent standard for finding outrageous government conduct as set forth in the case law.”
The court also said there is a difference between conduct that may violate ethics rules and conduct so extreme that it justifies throwing out criminal charges.
With the charges now reinstated, Jacobs is expected to be arrested again in the coming days.