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Published 10:56 03 Aug 2026 GMT
A Florida father accused of murdering his six-month-old son allegedly admitted to investigators that he "found it funny" to use a leaf blower on the infant before the child's death.
James Westervelt, 38, of Ocala, is facing a first-degree murder charge following the death of his baby son in August 2024, after prosecutors upgraded the case from second-degree murder.
According to investigators, Westervelt allegedly used a high-powered leaf blower on the infant on more than one occasion before the child died.
Police previously said the father admitted he "found it funny" to blow air at his son with the gardening tool.
Authorities also allege Westervelt used the leaf blower on the child when he was just two months old, leaving the infant distressed and struggling to breathe. That incident resulted in separate child abuse charges, which were already pending before the murder charge was filed.
The baby, who has not been publicly identified, was taken to hospital and placed on life support before dying several days later.
Medical experts later determined the child died from blunt force trauma consistent with violent shaking, according to investigators.
Police also say they obtained video footage allegedly showing Westervelt blowing air at the infant with the leaf blower during an incident that took place before the fatal injuries.
Following a further interview with investigators while he was in custody, authorities said they gathered enough evidence to pursue a murder charge.
Westervelt has now been charged with first-degree murder in addition to the existing child abuse allegations. The allegations against him have not yet been tested in court.
Following his arrest on child abuse charges earlier this year, investigators questioned him again while he was in jail.
In a statement quoted by WESH, the Marion County Sheriff's Office said: “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.”
Court records show Westervelt was initially charged with second-degree murder without premeditation.
However, prosecutors later dismissed that charge and filed a new charge of first-degree murder with premeditation on Thursday, July 30.
