A father in Florida was charged with murder after he allegedly admitted to directing a leaf blower at his 6-month-old son because he thought it would be funny.
James Westervelt was officially charged with murder in connection to the death of his son in August 2024, according to Marion County public court records filed by prosecutors on Thursday, July 30.
Westervelt, 38, was already in custody on child abuse charges related to the same child at the time he was indicted on the latest charge.
He was indicted two years after authorities were called to Westervelt’s home after they received reports of an unresponsive infant in the summer of 2024, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Us. The infant was then transported to a local hospital and was placed on life support. The child died days later while hospitalized.
The infant’s cause of death was ultimately determined to be blunt force trauma caused by violent shaking.
Police launched an investigation into the infant’s death, eventually finding a video that showed Westervelt blowing air on the child with a leaf blower. The video was taken before the infant sustained his fatal injuries.
After authorities discovered the video, they pointed to the evidence as grounds to arrest Westervelt on the child abuse charge.
“Eventually, once Westervelt was arrested in April this year for child abuse of the same victim, [authorities] were able to interview him again while in jail. It had been a couple of years since he provided his initial statement. He provided enough contradicting evidence. We worked with the state attorney’s office to, basically, charge him with murder,” the MCSO said in a statement obtained by WESH.
Westervelt also reportedly claimed to authorities that he used the leaf blower on his son because he thought it would be funny, according to WCJB.
The defendant was initially charged with second-degree murder without premeditation, according to court records. However, prosecutors dismissed the charge and later refiled a first-degree murder charge with premeditation on July 30.
It is not currently clear if Westervelt has entered a plea in light of the murder charge.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office had no additional updates to share when contacted by Us about the case.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
