WICHITA, Kan. — Accused of being high on marijuana and wanting more, a foster-father had his bond maintained at $250,000 as he faces charges in the death of his 10-month-old foster daughter inside a hot car. The District Attorney’s Office of Sedgwick County revealed in court that they believe marijuana was a contributing factor in the death of the 10-month old girl.
The information was disclosed after Seth Jackson’s attorneys asked to modify his bond. During that hearing, the state detailed part of its case against Jackson, 29, who is charged with first-degree murder in the commission of a felony, or second-degree murder in the alternative. The underlying felony is an aggravated endangering a child charge.
Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said in court Friday that facts indicate Jackson was high on the day he left Kadillak Poe-Jones in a hot car, causing her to die from hyperthermia. Temperatures reached the low 90s that day in Wichita.
Georgia Cole, Sedgwick County Attorney’s Office Communications Director, said prosecutors have evidence that Jackson drove his five-year-old adopted son to an appointment, then went to pick up Kadillak at daycare. With the kids in the car, prosecutors say Jackson drove to a drug dealer’s house to buy more marijuana because he had run out. They say when he returned home, Jackson left the baby in the car, while the 5-year-old managed to get out by himself.
Prosecutors believe Jackson was getting high, smoking marijuana for about 2 1/2 hours while the baby was still in the hot car.
Cole told FOX 4’s Megan Brilley that Jackson and his partner’s two adopted children are now in the homes of family members as the investigation continues. Jackson and his partner were in the process of adopting the girl. All children, including four foster children, have been removed from the home he shares with his partner.
