Colorado Court Orders Retrial in 2023 Infant Death Case After DA's Disbarment

A Colorado murder case involving the death of a ten-month-old boy has taken a new turn after months of legal delays. The Colorado Court of Appeals has ordered a retrial for William Jacobs, who was initially charged in connection with the child’s death. The decision follows a series of legal setbacks, including the disbarment of a district attorney and the reduction of charges against the boy’s mother.

The case began on 23 May 2023, when Edward Hayes was found unresponsive in a motel room. The infant later died, and William Jacobs—the last person known to have cared for him—was charged with felony child abuse. Jacobs’s girlfriend and the child’s mother, Brook Crawford, also faced charges, initially for felony child abuse. However, her case was later reduced to a misdemeanor, to which she pleaded not guilty in January 2024.

The original case against Jacobs was dismissed after District Attorney Linda Stanley made inflammatory public comments about the investigation. These remarks led to her disbarment and the collapse of the prosecution. Jacobs was released from jail around the same time Stanley lost her law licence. After taking over as district attorney, Jeff Lindsey pushed for a retrial. The Colorado Court of Appeals agreed, overturning the earlier dismissal and clearing the way for Jacobs to face court again.

The retrial will now proceed, with Jacobs facing renewed legal scrutiny over Edward Hayes’s death. Crawford’s misdemeanour case remains unresolved, leaving both defendants in a prolonged legal battle. The outcome will depend on the new prosecution’s ability to present evidence without the controversies that derailed the first trial.