MILLCREEK, Utah, May 9, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Codey Levi Jolley was charged Monday with first-degree felony murder in the death of his 17-month-old stepson, Ethan Antes.
The 28-year-old Millcreek man also was charged with child abuse, a second-degree felony.
Jolley called 911 operators on April 29 saying he left the boy alone, sitting in the tub, for 20 seconds or less, and returned to find Ethan face-down in the water, drowned.
According to information in the charging documents, none of the details of Jolley’s account match evidence found in Ethan’s death investigation.
Jason McCalmant, Ethan’s step grandfather on mother Rikishareen’s side, said detailed information released Monday was a shock.
“I am still trying to grasp what’s going on,” McCalmant told Gephardt Daily. “We just found out, too. The autopsy and medical examiner don’t make mistakes, and I believe the charges are fitting for the crime he has committed.”
Emergency medical crews that treated Ethan at the scene said the toddler “was essentially dead when the first responders arrived, which means that there was some event that caused a sudden and massive collapse,” charging documents said.
According to court documents, doctors believe that Ethan didn’t die from drowning, as Jolley had reported, but “as part of an ongoing pattern of child abuse or inflicted injuries caused by another person.”
Jolley had been alone with Ethan at the time of the child’s final injury, and police say the two also were alone when Ethan sustained at least two major injuries preceding his death.
Jolley told police that in an incident about three weeks before Ethan’s death, the child was burned by scalding coffee that came into contact with his head and upper body, resulting in first- and second-degree burns. And the day before his death, Ethan reportedly fell in his highchair, striking the right side of his head on a table.
Dr. Erik Christensen, assistant Utah medical examiner, performed Ethan’s autopsy on May 2. The report is not yet complete, and some of the damage evident to Ethan’s body at his time of death may have been sustained as part of resuscitation efforts.
But Christensen did note lacerations to Ethan’s eyelid, arms and legs; partially healed ripping of the flap between the teeth and gums on the top and bottom of the child’s mouth; and bruising to Ethan’s forehead, face, jaw and neck; and swelling of the brain.
According to charging documents, doctors have said that Ethan’s injuries are consistent with strangulation.
The charging documents also note that Jolley said he was upset that rescue crews took so long to respond, but that when dispatchers asked Jolley for his address, he did not provide it.
“I hope that he (Codey Jolley) isn’t able to plea bargain out of his charge,” McCalmant said. “I have a petition going around to change our laws for stiffer penalties for perpetrators of child-based crimes. We want minimum mandatories so these perps can’t get out and hurt other families.
“This has affected hundreds of people that love Ethan, and we are going to honor him by getting the laws changed so Ethan’s passing wasn’t in vain. If we can save even one child, then it will be successful. We are full of mixed feelings, but we have faith in our justice system.”
https://www.change.org/p/utah-make-stiffer-penalty-s-against-child-abusers-in-the-state-of-utah-called-ethan-s-law?recruiter=537781136&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_page&utm_term=mob-xs-no_src-custom_msg
Click the link to sign the petition.
Justice for Ethan
https://goo.gl/3UQJTA
Signed the petition as I believe Cody Jolley deserves the harshest punishment.
I also signed a petition to arrest & prosecute Ethan Antes mother RikiShareen LIyod as she failed to protect her child in the weeks preceding to his murder, the signs of abuse where beyond obvious she is negligent in Ethan’s abuse & death. She is a Certified Nurses Assistant who is trained to spot any signs or conditions of abuse even if it’s just suspicion as a CNA she is Legally a Mandatory Reporter of abuse & Failed to do so.
Utah Law
62A-4a-403. Reporting requirements.
(1) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2), when any person including persons licensed under Title 58, Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act, or Title 58, Chapter 31b, Nurse Practice Act, has reason to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect, or who observes a child being subjected to conditions or circumstances which would reasonably result in abuse or neglect, that person shall immediately notify the nearest peace officer, law enforcement agency, or office of the division.
Utah Law Failure to Report
Ann. Code § 62A-4a-411
Any person, official, or institution required to report a case of suspected child abuse, child sexual abuse, neglect, fetal alcohol syndrome, or fetal drug dependency who willfully fails to do so is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
Action for failure to report must be commenced within 4 years from the date of knowledge of the offense and the willful failure to report.
Justice For Ethan Antes
When a man has no job and the woman is working,and has children.That are not the mans children,you can bet some thing will happen to that child.Why would she marry a man that has no job? This man murdered her baby,how much do u want to bet she stays married to him? He is a loser.
I just don’t get how these women choose these evil punk cowards