Florida mom admits to hitting 2-year-old son, putting his body in woods, cops say

The mother of a 2-year-old boy found dead after an Amber Alert was issued for him was arrested Tuesday and a report says she admitted to hitting the child.

Charisse D. Stinson, 21, was arrested Tuesday night on a murder charge in connection with her son Jordan Belliveau’s death. Pinellas County jail records show she was also booked on a charge of aggravated child abuse.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Jordan had an “unexplained, serious injury” to his right leg Sunday morning.

Stinson admitted to police she hit Jordan in the face with the back of her hand, causing the back of his head to hit a wall, in a “moment of frustration,” according to the affidavit.

After hitting his head, Jordan had seizures during the night. Jordan’s condition continued to decline and he later died. Stinson carried him to a wooded area and left him there, according to the affidavit.

Police noted in the affidavit Jordan’s body had “visible injuries” that were consistent with Stinson’s statement. Largo Police Department Lt. Randall Chaney said during a Wednesday news conference that an autopsy will be performed.

It was late Tuesday afternoon when police and Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced Jordan’s body was found in a wooded area near Largo.

Chaney said they got information, though not from Stinson, that led them to the area where Jordan’s body was found.

Jordan was found near where Stinson previously told police a stranger named “Antwan” offered them a ride home Saturday night in a white Toyota Camry, but knocked her unconscious and took Jordan. She realized her son was missing when she woke up alone hours later in Largo Central Park.

Police previously said Stinson reported Jordan missing Saturday night. An Amber Alert was issued Sunday while police searched for the boy and a sketch of “Antwan” and a vehicle description was released by police Tuesday. The alert was canceled when his body was found Tuesday afternoon.

Chaney also said Wednesday police do not believe “Antwan” or the Camry were real, and were fabricated by Stinson. They do, however, know she was at Largo Central Park “specifically with the intent of making up a story that she had been dumped there” and hurting herself. Chaney said police have video of her at the park.

“According to the detectives, during her interview, she would constantly change what she was saying based on the line of questioning. There was no feeling with them that there was any remorse, only her attempting to escape the reality of the story by making things up as she went,” Chaney said.

Chaney said even though parts of Stinson’s story did not make sense, they had to focus on finding Jordan.

Now that investigators found Jordan, they are focused on a successful prosecution, said Largo Police Department Maj. Stephen Slaughter.

Police said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with Jordan’s death and they believe Stinson was the “lone actor,” but are asking the public for any information related to the case.

Chaney said they are looking for a passerby, possibly a witness, who may have seen Stinson on Saturday.

Stinson was previously arrested in April 2017 on a domestic battery charge, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, but court records show no criminal charges were filed.

This story was originally published September 5, 2018 at 9:18 AM.