A Minnesota woman has been sentenced to nearly two decades in prison for the brutal murder of her 23-month-old son. The mother, Larena Jackson, 31, admitted to repeatedly slamming her son’s head into a bedroom wall, causing fatal injuries. Initially, she attempted to mislead authorities by blaming the child’s father, claiming the boy had been run over by his car, which was in the shop for repairs at the time.
The father, Robert Ortez, expressed his grief and confusion over the tragic incident. He stated that he was still trying to understand why Jackson would commit such a heinous act. Ortez was not able to provide any insight into the motive behind the crime, as Jackson has remained silent on the matter.
Jackson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in February, following the incident in August 2023. In her written plea, she claimed that she was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crime, which led to her impaired judgment and memory loss. This plea, known as a Norgaard plea in Minnesota, allows defendants to admit guilt while also acknowledging that they cannot recall specific details due to intoxication or other forms of memory loss.
On the day of the incident, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a child who had been run over by a car. Jackson had called the police, accusing Ortez of the crime. However, Ortez was able to prove that his car was in the shop for repairs at the time of the incident.
A subsequent search of Jackson’s residence revealed a gruesome scene. Investigators found large amounts of blood scattered throughout the home and large holes in the wall that matched the size of a toddler’s head. The child, Aaryan, succumbed to his injuries in the hospital five days later.
In addition to the murder charge, Jackson was also convicted of first-degree assault, malicious punishment of a child, and fleeing a peace officer. She was sentenced to serve a minimum of 17 1/2 years, with credit for 581 days already served. Ortez expressed his belief that Jackson deserved a life sentence for her actions.