Defense: Boy might have ingested too much tap water
GOOSE CREEK — When 10-year-old Jon Jon Jackson died from drowning this summer more than an hour after he'd left a swimming pool, prosecutors charged an adult for being criminally responsible for his death, tying it to rough treatment in the water.
The Post and Courier
Saquan Meekins (center) and his lawyer, Mark Peper, prepare to address Judge Markley Dennis on Thursday at Meekins' bond hearing. Meekins is accused in the drowning death of Jon Jon Jackson.
His lawyer said Thursday another theory is worth exploring: The boy accidently might have ingested too much tap water.
Mark Peper, attorney for child abuse suspect Saquan Meekins, said the boy was hosed off at the pool after he defecated there and took a shower at home after he defecated on himself a second time. Both instances could have resulted in water entering the boy's lungs, he said.
"It's probably a combination of both" pool and tap water, he said.
Peper's comments came as Circuit Judge Markley Dennis set a $50,000 bail for Meekins' release on a charge of homicide by child abuse. Because Meekins' family doesn't have a lot of money, Peper said it probably would take family and friends chipping in for him ever to be released.
Meekins, 22, was charged this month. On June 1, he apparently was trying to teach the autistic boy how to swim at the Branchwood Apartments pool. His mother lived with the boy's mother. Authorities think he went too far with the child.
Previous stories
'They were just splashing around'; Mother of child 'flabbergasted' over homicide charge, published 11/14/08
Man charged in boy's drowning; Police accuse family friend of homicide by child abuse, published 11/13/08
Child's death mystifies mother; 'It's really bizarre,' mom says of son's drowning, published 06/04/08
The Berkeley County coroner ruled the death drowning by asphyxiation. It appeared as though the boy had inhaled water and drowned from fluid in his lungs while taking a nap long after his swim. The delayed effect is known as secondary drowning.
But Peper said his investigation, and comments from witnesses, indicates there was nothing out of the ordinary in the interaction between the two.
"There was no crime committed," he said.
Prosecutors have not disclosed much about their case, but Deputy Solicitor Bryan Alfaro said Meekins repeatedly threw the boy in the water and that the child was having great difficulty.
Homicide by child abuse charges can be filed when there is an extreme indifference to a child's life, the Solicitor's Office has said.
The Post and Courier
Mark Peper, attorney for child abuse suspect Saquan Meekins, talks Thursday with Jon Jon Jackson's mother, Cassandra Jackson, after a bond hearing for Meekins in Moncks Corner. Jackson has defended Meekins, saying his interaction with the boy was not abusive.
Family members gave statements to police that said that after the swimming trip, Jon Jon walked with them and that he was sleepy and laid down for a nap.
When someone checked on Jon Jon about an hour later, they found that his lips were blue and white foam was coming from his mouth. He was taken to Trident Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Since Meekins' arrest, the two mothers involved have defended him and his play with the boy. Jon Jon's mother, Cassandra Jackson, said she was at the pool and never would have let her son be abused.
"I'm tired of this," she said outside the Berkeley County Courthouse in Moncks Corner. "Nothing happened. Haven't I suffered enough?"
Meekins' mother, Christine Meekins, also expressed her son's innocence.
"I'm just shocked. I'm still in shock," she said.
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Comments
moonpie (anonymous) says...
"defecated" first time I heard this part of the story. Better be some witnesses to the contrary or this guy will walk.
November 21, 2008 at 6:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
This one is going to turn in to a circus... we may never know what really happened.
November 21, 2008 at 6:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
greyman (anonymous) says...
It doesn't take very much water for secondary drowning. Not much more than a couple of teaspoons could do it. That uppsets the balance in youre lungs. Then you drown on youre own body fluids. My nephew is slightly autistic. I have seen his swimming lessons. He screems and yells alot. I can see how someone would think something happened, but I think this guy is innocent. Would his mom really sit there and let somebody abuse her son?
November 21, 2008 at 7:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Yes, bits and pieces of the story are let out over time. Why. Anyway, if the arrest of this guy is based on "extreme indiference" as stated above, then why has the mother and everyone else that was there witnessing the same thing not arrested. If the boy had not died, then no one would have reported this. What is the solicitor's agenda, arresting only one when many were involved showing "extreme indifference".
November 21, 2008 at 7:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jmw9 (anonymous) says...
where ever you go, that is where you are
November 21, 2008 at 8:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCgal (anonymous) says...
Wish they would spend this many tax dollars, time, and energy getting the drugs, rapist, and murdering ones off the streets!!
November 21, 2008 at 8:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
I would have have thought that the autopsy results would have shown the level of chlorine in the child's lungs. There would have been a difference in the levels betweeen the poolwater and tap water.
Chlorinated water will cause diarrhea when swallowed in large quantities.
This is going to be a tough case, and one has to wonder why the prosecutors are pursuing it so doggedly when the mother says nothing happened. There is something not being told, as they are slowly releasing information.
November 21, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
majorjohnson (anonymous) says...
Why did they set the bail so high? Bail is set to insure a person will show at trial or will behave while awaiting trial. Is this guy supposed to be a flight risk or danger to the community? Since this is an article on the bail hearing why didn't they include information pertinent to the subject?
And like theronce said, there were people there, why weren't they arrested for "extreme indifference" if they allowed abuse to occur. This whole thing sounds like really bad judgement on the solicitors part.
November 21, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CHRISJIII (anonymous) says...
Sounds like the solicitor is playing games with someone's freedom. The witnesses, including the child's mother, haven't reported anything that would have endangered this child's life so what's the problem?
November 21, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
A child's mother is not always a good witness when her husband, boyfriend or friend is involved. An excellent example would be the Summerville mother of the baby that died last month due to the boyfriend's actions. She not only defended him as being innocent, she lied for him.
There are a lot of assumptions that the police and/or solicitor are on a wild goose chase on this one. While that has happened in the past, it is not always the case. More often than not, law enforcement knows what they are doing. The death was originally ruled and accident by the police. Something happened or something was said that made them take a second look. It wasn't until after that second look that charges were brought against Meekins. Obviously, not all of the details have been released yet, and most likely, they won't be released unless and until this thing goes to trial. Assuming that the police and/or solicitor are screwed up at this point is a bit premature unless you know all of the details surrounding the case. Meekins may turn out to be innocent, I don't know any more than the rest of you do, but throwing the police and solicitor under the bus when all of the details are not known seems like a rush to judgment to me. Let the investigation unfold, let the details come out. A young boy died and this DOES need to be thoroughly investigated. State law requires at least that much. We may find out that no crime was committed, but I'm glad that when a child dies, the incident is looked in to closely. As far as the high bail goes: he was also ordered by a different judge to have no contact with any children if he makes bail. Apparently the police, the solicitor and two different judges all have reason to believe Meekins is dangerous.
November 21, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Satanssybil2007 (anonymous) says...
Hey Coldbud speaking of that dude that killed the 22 month old boy I bet you can not guess what happened to him when he was put in Berkeley county lock up???
November 21, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
LOL, no I have no idea Satanssybil. I haven't heard anything more about him or the case in general.
November 21, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kontact (anonymous) says...
Hopefully it was an accident and these people didnt do anything intentionally to that kid
November 21, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Satanssybil2007 (anonymous) says...
well coldbud he got what was coming to him, at least in there!! The unit he was put in well seems those boys did not like child killers too much and the proceeded to beat the living hell out of him when they realized who he was and what he had done. That dude had to be removed, taken to an ER and then put into protective custody for the duration!
November 21, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
I should not have made my comment about the solicitor. As usual, so little information is out; it's almost like gossip. With the scimpy information that I have now, I would just suspect they are either all guilty or all innocent...not just one guy.
November 21, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
In any event. I hope the truth does come out.
On the surface it seems that the boy was being roughly taught how to swim. Having had been through that myself, as a non-mentally disabled person it is no big deal. but for a child with such limitations it may have been too much.
It such is the case, does it warrant this type of charge?
Did this young man set out to abuse this child?
And what about charging the mother? If she was there supervising the entire thing why didn't the solicitor charge her as well? Why only this guy? The parent has the ultimate responsibility. She should be charged as well if a crime is suspected of being committed.
In either event, this woman lost her child and Jon Jon's friends and family lost an angel.
This situation is heartrending to say the least.
November 21, 2008 at 12:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mitchumt (anonymous) says...
You guys look like you respond to these things often. It breaks my heart to see this guy going through all this when it just seemed like he was taking time to help and autistic child. I cannot imagine many people would bother with autistic children. I think this is just a case of someone who doesn't understand a handicapped child's needs and accidentally took things too far. I'm sure he feels terrible, but he couldn't have understood the risks involved in what he was doing. it doesn't sound like the mother did either to have let that occur. I hope there's more evidence like one of you said to make officials take notice. otherwise they need to put more effort into finding the 'real' criminals and let this guy go.
November 21, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
IronWoman (anonymous) says...
Why is all the blame being put on this Meekins fellow? Isn't this childs MOTHER responsible for anything? She was in attendance of everything that happened, or didn't happen to her son, ... so why is she free to walk, while the male involved is in jail with little chance of being released???? They really need to take a second, third, and fourth look at this case, ... this is totally messed up, in so many ways.
Does this child normalle deficate on himself several times a day? Or is this a result of ingesting too much water at the pool??? It's just painful to think what this childs last day alive was like, ... when all he wanted to do was go swimming.
November 21, 2008 at 5:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jojorutledge (anonymous) says...
I think this whole case is bogus. I remember when this first happened, it was all over the news. It was on Oprah in August and the coroner told the papers it was "no foul play", the one thing that makes me think this is crazy, is this, what "witness" in their right mind, would wait until november to pop up and say they saw or heard something? if someone hurts a child in front of me, PLEASE BELIEVE that i'm dialing 911 immediately, i wont wait five months to speak up.
November 21, 2008 at 5:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
That's a question I asked on one of the previous articles jojo. If a witness saw something they considered important enough to call the police, why didn't they call during the act???
It's all speculation right now.
November 21, 2008 at 5:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jojorutledge (anonymous) says...
I just feel soooo bad for the whole family. To bury one son, then have ur roommates son have his character buried right behind it. It must be very terrible right now. I saw in the papers that the police weren't releasing any information about the investigation? Thats kind of a first. They usually have all kinds of statements but I guess when thats a "slam dunk" case. I'm just praying that this is resolved quickly so the family can get back to their lives.
November 21, 2008 at 6:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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