A Florida man has pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the death of his 8-month-old son, Pablo Golden. Justin Golden, 20, entered the plea in Duval County court after authorities said he ran over his child with an SUV.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on January 25 after Golden and the child’s mother argued while driving back from Walmart. The argument was reportedly about money and baby wipes. When they stopped at a busy intersection, the baby’s mother exited the GMC Terrain. A witness told police that Golden then got out of the vehicle carrying what appeared to be a trash bag, placed it on the ground, and drove off slowly, running over it with a rear tire.
The witness realized that the bundle was actually a child and called 911 while following Golden until law enforcement arrived and took him into custody. The baby’s mother said she heard screaming as she walked away from the SUV and turned around to see her child had been run over.
Golden told detectives he put his son on the ground because “he did not want to be responsible for the child, nor accused of anything with the child,” according to investigators. The baby died at a hospital shortly after being run over.
Golden was initially charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child and vehicular homicide. His sentencing is scheduled for November 13.
McClatchy News contacted Golden’s attorney for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
