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Published 09:33 03 Aug 2026 GMT
A Florida man has been charged with the murder of his six-month-old son after investigators alleged the infant died from injuries caused by violent shaking.
James Westervelt, 38, of Ocala, is now facing a first-degree murder charge in connection with the August 2024 death of his baby, according to Marion County court records and reports from local media.
Westervelt had already been in custody on child abuse charges involving the same child before prosecutors upgraded the case.
According to NBC affiliate WESH, deputies from the Marion County Sheriff's Office were called to Westervelt's home in the summer of 2024 after receiving reports of an unresponsive infant.
The baby was rushed to hospital and placed on life support but died several days later.
Medical professionals later concluded the infant had died from blunt force trauma consistent with violent shaking, according to ABC affiliate WCJB.
During the investigation, authorities also uncovered video footage allegedly showing Westervelt using a leaf blower on the child during an earlier incident.
Investigators previously said Westervelt admitted he had blown air on the infant with the leaf blower because he believed it would be funny.
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.
According to court records, Westervelt is due back in court in September.
