My name is Dr. Tyrone Thompson. I’m writing in hope of soliciting you in helping my family bring light and national attention to a tremendous and heart-breaking call for justice. On 2/17/19, my 5-month-old baby nephew was murdered at daycare in Dillon, SC.
(Video of Baby Jeremiah and his twin, Zachariah)
History of Dillon
Dillon is a small town located in Dillon County in the northeastern part of South Carolina. We’re known as the hometown of Ben Bernanke (former chairman of the Federal Reserve), Kenneth Manning (professor of rhetoric and of the history of science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and Kevin Steele (current University of Alabama defensive coordinator) just to name a few. It’s a farming and textiles community where unfortunately a lot of the textile jobs left the community. Dillon is a rural area and is made up of 53.5% blacks and 38.7% white according to the 2020 census.
Family Background
My mother as a single parent raised 4 children in this rural community against all odds and God’s help. We knew what it was like to go hungry. Through her and my extended family’s love, we all went on to do great things and contributed to society. I’m working for the Federal Government in getting affordable insurance to families, my twin brother (Jerome) is a renowned UI/UX graphic artist for Home Depot Corporate, my sister (Sharon) is an assistant principal, and my little brother (Robert, Jr.) is a Senior/Child Protection Supervisor for South Carolina.
My brother Robert and his wife (Melissa) welcomed a 3rd set of twins to born in our family on September 5th, 2018. The twin boys (Jeremiah and Zachariah) are the youngest of the four children they have all together.
Events of that Day
That fateful day, the parents gathered up their children that morning and began the journey of dropping everyone off at daycare and school. The twin boys were dropped off first. It would be the last time the family would see Jeremiah alive. He arrived at Generation’s Daycare in Dillon and suffered an injury on February 12, 2019. He died 4 days later in the Pediatric ICU at McLeod Hospital in Florence, SC. Judy Cox, the owner of the daycare center was arrested and bonded out. A judge immediately issued a gag order in the case which severely limited the family from getting any much-needed attention. The case was delayed due to several requests for a continuance and due to Covid impacting the judicial schedule.
Trial and Outcomes
Judy Cox, admitted in open court that she never shook the baby but then changed her testimony to say she did shake the baby “but not like y’all trying to make it”. Her defense attorney focused on bringing doubt in the proceeding stating that baby Jeremiah was a sick and premature baby. The defense brought up the baby receiving Albuterol treatments and a supposedly large heart valve. The State’s expert doctor stated the valve measurements were entered incorrectly and that viewing the autopsy photo with the naked eye shows the heart being normal. The DA asked all the experts if such treatments such as albuterol could have caused Jeremiah injuries (brain bleed and swelling) …each expert testified such treatments absolutely wouldn’t have caused those injuries or caused the baby’s death.
Experts at the Medical University of South Carolina and other State experts examined evidence collected by prosecutors and found the child suffered from brain bleeding and the cause of death was related to the abuse. The following were experts that testified:
- Dr. Rudolf Jokl, MD – Dillon Emergency room doctor testified the baby had head trauma.
- Dr. Thomas Beaver – A medical doctor with MUSC who performed the autopsy stated the child’s cause of death was blunt force head trauma.
- Dr. John Melville – A child abuse pediatrician at MUSC stated the baby died from baby died from blunt force trauma to the head as a result of child abuse with brain bleeding, significant bruising about the forehead and retinal hemorrhaging.
- Dr. Deana Lyttle – An ophthalmologist stated that Jeremiah’s retinal injuries were the worst she’s seen for a child in her years of practice.
- Dr. Susan Lamb – A child abuse pediatrician contracted through the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Child Fatality Review Team stated that Jeremiah died of abusive head trauma.
These doctors testified that Jeremiah suffered a sudden and serious injury.
The DA also shared with the jury a phone call he got from a medical doctor regarding Jeremiah’s injuries. “When he called me back, weeks later. He said these injuries were inflicted by somebody. And it happened during that window from 7 to 10:41.” This is relevant because the twin babies were dropped off before 7:00AM at the daycare perfectly healthy. Judy Cox testified herself that the babies were fine, healthy and playful when they arrived.
Additionally, Cox’s former employees told police that Cox was the only person in the room with Jeremiah. Cox earlier stated to an agent with the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) during the interrogation that she shook Jeremiah and later said she didn’t realize that she had shaken him that hard.
There were other factors that caused issues in seeking justice for our family:
- Some members of the jury knew Judy Cox and/or family members personally.
- Dillon City Police lost the audio recording of the initial interrogation of Cox charged in the baby’s death. The recording was transcribed prior to it being lost and was admitted as evidence in court.
- The Medical University of South Carolina lost the tissue block from Jeremiah which the defense argued was not fair to her defendant.
Our Hopes
A baby does not show up to daycare healthy and leave on life support! We need your help, and we need justice! It pains me to see my brother’s family go through this torment. We gave and continue to give our lives in service of others in our professions. That’s how our mother raised us but most importantly, to be there for family. I’ve personally seen war and lost friends, but this pain and miscarriage of justice is by far the most agonizing of my life’s experience. We lost a precious opportunity to bring light to our case but due to the imposed gag order, we were limited and held at the mercy of a southern court system. Your voice in helping us bring attention to this matter is greatly appreciated and helps make up for time lost and in bringing this Cox to justice. I am more than willing to arrange a discussion with the parents (my brother and his lovely wife) with you and/or your staff. Please consi
der helping us. God bless you!
