A Dallas man is facing trial this week after confessing to police that he placed his 18-month-old nephew in a dumpster, leading to the child’s death in 2019.
Sedrick Johnson, 33, is charged with injury to a child. If convicted, he could face a life sentence in prison.
Additionally, Johnson has been charged with capital murder, a case that currently remains pending and has yet to go to trial, according to court records.
The infant, Cedrick “C.J.” Jackson, was last seen on July 10 at the apartment of his aunt, who was in a relationship with Johnson. On that same evening, a statewide Amber Alert was issued for Cedrick as concern for his safety escalated.
During the ongoing trial, testimony revealed that as authorities began investigating, initial accounts suggested a man had broken into the home, stolen an Xbox, and abducted Cedrick while he slept.
In a twist, Johnson voluntarily went to Dallas police headquarters to assist in the search for Cedrick but was arrested due to outstanding warrants. After being taken into custody, Johnson gave an interview to a child abuse detective.
In this interview, Johnson presented a narrative that he had left his aunt’s apartment to buy cigarettes, leaving the door open, which he claimed allowed someone to kidnap Cedrick, who was swaddled and asleep on the floor.
As the detective probed deeper into Johnson’s story, evidence shown to the jury revealed that he became increasingly emotional, sobbing and hyperventilating as the questioning continued.
Johnson confirmed to the detective that, following a series of alarming events, Cedrick became unresponsive and vomited.
In what he described as a panic, Johnson recalled performing chest compressions on Cedrick and trying to revive him with water in the shower. “I thought about taking him to the hospital,” he stated, “but I wouldn’t know what to tell them.”
Instead of seeking medical assistance, Johnson confessed he wrapped Cedrick in a blanket, placed him in the passenger seat of his car, and ultimately drove to a dumpster on the northeast side of Dallas.
He admitted to putting Cedrick’s body in a blue, trash-filled dumpster. The following morning, police discovered Cedrick’s remains in a landfill located at the boundary between Garland and Rowlett.
During the trial, Johnson’s appearance was noted as he sat in the courtroom wearing a gray blazer, blue dress shirt, and dark-colored tie. Observers reported that he leaned back while watching video footage of his police interview, occasionally consulting with his defense team.
Further testimony revealed disturbing facts regarding Johnson’s treatment of Cedrick. A child living in the household testified to instances of crude punishment by Johnson, which included swaddling Cedrick with a blanket in response to minor infractions, such as spilling ketchup packets.
Prosecutor Rachel Burris presented the prosecution’s case, arguing that Johnson, as Cedrick’s caretaker, failed in his duty by not seeking help from anyone in the household when the child showed signs of distress.
Burris emphasized that Johnson did not call 911 or take any steps to ensure Cedrick received medical attention, despite the child’s critical condition.
In defense, attorney Stephanie Martin characterized the prosecution’s claims as biased and misleading. She argued that evidence would establish that Johnson’s actions or lack thereof did not directly result in Cedrick’s death.
Moreover, the defense raised questions about the legality of Johnson’s statements made to police, highlighting that he had requested legal counsel during questioning. Former detective Rico Harris, who interrogated Johnson, admitted he was not aware of Johnson’s request for an attorney until much later.
Harris noted that had he known, he would have stopped the interview immediately. At a prior hearing in 2022, Harris stated, “If he had said it to me, I would have stopped the interview.”
The lower courts initially ruled that Johnson’s statements should have been suppressed due to a violation of his constitutional rights. However, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals later overturned these rulings, reinstating Johnson’s admissions as evidence for the trial.
As the trial progresses, the courtroom awaits further testimony and evidence, while the stakes remain high for Johnson, who could face severe penalties depending on the outcome.
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