A Rockford father is being held in jail without release after his 7-month-old son was found unresponsive in a home and later died from what authorities describe as catastrophic injuries. Jaden Hearns, 27, has been charged with first-degree murder and multiple counts of aggravated battery to a child, and the case has triggered a full-scale homicide investigation along with renewed attention to Hearns' past court record.
How the case unfolded
Rockford police say officers were called around 8 a.m. on April 26 to a home in the 2400 block of Rose Avenue for a report of an unresponsive infant. The child was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead later that morning, according to WIFR. A preliminary autopsy by the Winnebago County Coroner found the baby had suffered blunt-force trauma to the head, and detectives quickly identified Hearns as a suspect.
Medical findings and injuries
Court documents cited by investigators state the 7-month-old had two distinct skull fractures at different impact sites, several broken ribs and a fractured femur. Prosecutors say those injuries are not consistent with any kind of accidental fall. Those details were reported by the Tampa Free Press, which reviewed the filings.
Conflicting accounts and evidence
Prosecutors say Hearns, who was the only adult home with the infant overnight, initially told officers he did not know how the baby was hurt. He later said he had been playing video games when the child started crying around 3:45 a.m., and then told investigators he has a "bad memory," according to the case summaries. Authorities also say surveillance footage shows Hearns carrying a firearm inside the residence, and that officers seized a rifle and ammunition during a search of the home, according to WIFR.
Previous orders and court action
Court records indicate Hearns was already out on pretrial release in a separate 2025 domestic-battery case and had been ordered on Nov. 24, 2025, not to have contact with the child's mother, according to WTVO. Prosecutors told the judge they believe Hearns violated those earlier bond conditions and urged the court to keep him in custody while the new homicide and child-battery charges move forward.
Next steps in the case
Hearns was denied pretrial release and remains in the Winnebago County Jail. He is scheduled to return to court on May 27, when prosecutors say they plan to proceed with the current slate of charges, according to the Tampa Free Press. Authorities have asked anyone with information about the case to contact Rockford police as the investigation continues.
