Man accused of murdering toddler son in Mariposa County

The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office rearrested a man Friday accused of murdering his 22-month-old son in 2018.

Jesse Ashton, turned himself in Friday after authorities issued a warrant for the 23-year-old more than a year after holding him in the death of his son, Bradley Reynolds. He was booked on suspicion of murder and assault resulting in the death of a child, and is being held at the agency’s Adult Detention Facility under a $1 million bail.

Ashton was first arrested April 19, 2018, according to the sheriff’s office, four days after the boy’s death, but no charges were filed after he posted bail.

Authorities said Ashton called 911 on the day of the death to report Bradley was having a seizure, who was later pronounced dead at Valley Children’s Hospital.

The boy’s autopsy and pathology report was not available for several months, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. During the 20 months since the toddler’s death, detectives and the Mariposa County District Attorney’s Office continued to investigate, they said.

A warrant was issued for Ashton on Dec. 2, and the sheriff’s office searched for him in Mariposa and Madera counties.

This story was originally published December 14, 2019 at 9:39 AM with the headline "Man accused of murdering toddler son in Mariposa County."