Newly released body camera footage shows a Las Vegas city marshal discovering the body of a missing 2-year-old boy in a dumpster, just hours after he was reported missing last month.
In the footage obtained by 8 News Now, the marshal looked in the dumpster as he searched for Jacoby Robinson Jr. on June 7 and found his lifeless body at the bottom.
The child was found less than five hours after his mother, 23-year-old Diaja Smith, called 911 to report his disappearance. She claimed someone abducted Robinson from a park.
Police allege Robinson died earlier that day and Smith put the child’s body in the dumpster, according to documents obtained by the outlet.
Smith and the child’s father, 24-year-old Jacoby Robinson Sr., were arrested and charged with open murder and child abuse.
Police said the child’s body showed “significant signs of physical injury to [his] head, torso and buttocks.”
Surveillance footage from that day showed a woman police suspect is Smith with three children, including two in a stroller. Another piece of footage shows the woman walking toward a dumpster out of view from the camera. When she returns, she is accompanied by two children, not three.
The child was placed in the dumpster around 8 p.m., according to officials.
Officials allege that Smith beat Jacoby Robinson Jr. and his younger brother with a belt and power cords. Smith denied hitting the children and claimed Jacoby Robinson Jr. had a seizure the day before he died.
Smith and Jacoby Robinson Sr. have five children together. The Clark County Department of Family Services had contact with the family three previous times.
While the case was being presented to a grand jury, prosecutors read a letter written in jail by Smith and sent to Jacoby Robinson Sr.
“Why didn’t I listen when I said no more whoopings when you told me to stop whooping the kids. I really hope you can forgive me. Love deep down I really do. I cherished every moment with you. I wish I cooked us one last meal. I’m sorry I wasn’t thinking right,” a detective read from the letter.
The two oldest children are not in the parent’s custody. Smith regained custody of the three younger children in April.
Smith and Jacoby Robinson Sr. Are being held without bail. They are scheduled to appear in court on August 8.
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