Denver man found guilty of killing live-in girlfriend's 3-year-old son
03/07/2023 12:52 pm PST
DENVER (TCD) -- A Denver jury recently found a 37-year-old man guilty of killing his live-in girlfriend's 3-year-old son after just five hours of deliberation.
The Denver District Attorney's Office said that on Sept. 25, 2018, John Affourtit killed the boy at the couple's apartment on the 900 block of S. Dahlia Street, and his cause of death was blunt force trauma.
According to an arrest report obtained by KDVR-TV, John Affourtit told police the 3-year-old boy became ill and inactive after he fell in the bathtub a week before his death, cut his eyes, and suffered a "knot" on his head.
Additionally, Affourtit told officials he served the boy chili for dinner, but the child spat it up, and Affourtit got upset and fought with his girlfriend, KDVR reports.
The girlfriend allegedly left the apartment with her son, and they went to her mother's home.
According to KDVR, Affourtit said his girlfriend returned to their apartment with the child, put him to bed, and left for work.
Affourtit reportedly told police he went to check on the 3-year-old boy while his girlfriend was at work and noticed he was covered in vomit, so he cleaned him up, and tucked him back to bed. When the girlfriend arrived to their apartment, she allegedly found her son dead.
On Sept. 26, 2018, the District Attorney's Office said Affourtit was arrested. On Friday, March 3, the office announced he was found guilty of first-degree murder –– victim under 12/position of trust, child abuse –– knowing/reckless causing death, and reckless endangerment. He is scheduled to be sentenced next month, on April 6.
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