Trevaughn Stribling-Jackson, 25, has been found guilty of first-degree murder and other charges in connection to the December 2023 death of 2-year-old Keaton Morrison following a four-day trial at the Venango County Courthouse.
The trial, which began Monday before President Judge Matthew Kirtland and was scheduled to last five days, wrapped up Thursday.
After several days of testimony, the jury found Stribling-Jackson guilty of intentionally beating Morrison to death.
Thursday morning, after a meeting between the attorneys from the prosecution and defense and Kirtland in the judges chambers, Kirtland said he was not going to include third-degree murder in his charge to the jury, as there had been no evidence at trial presented regarding a lack of intent to kill, which is part of the definition of third degree murder.
Public Defender Jeff Misko, representing Stribling-Jackson, objected.
Kirtland then called in and charged the jury.
The jury, made up of eight women and four men, began deliberations shortly after 11 a.m. and returned with their verdict an hour later. About 20 people came to hear the verdict.
Stribling-Jackson was found guilty of first-degree murder, as well as felony counts of aggravated assault-victim less than 13 and defendant 18 or older, and concealment of the whereabouts of a child. He was also found guilty of misdemeanor counts of abuse of a corpse, tamper with/fabricate physical evidence and false identification to law enforcement officer.
A felony charge of flight to avoid apprehension, trial or punishment was severed Jan. 23, to be tried separately.
Stribling-Jackson appeared to have no reaction to being found guilty. His demeanor was expressionless, as it had been during the whole trial.
According to testimony and evidence presented at the trial, on Dec. 20, 2023 Morrison’s body was found by police stuffed in a bag under a table in the corner of the basement of 610 North Street in Oil City where he and his three-year-old brother were living with their mother, Caleigh Gladfelter, 23, and her boyfriend, Stribling-Jackson.
Gladfelter reported her 2-year-old son missing Dec. 20, 2023, saying she had last seen him at about 2:30 p.m. two days earlier when she left for work, leaving him in the care of Stribling-Jackson in the basement where they were living, according to testimony presented at the trial.
Gladfelter, who is also facing charges in the case, including felony counts of endangering the welfare of children and involuntary manslaughter, testified Monday under qualified immunity.
Among other things, she testified that Stribling-Jackson physically abused her and that Morrison was nowhere to be found when she returned home from work Dec. 18, 2023 at about 11:30 p.m.
Dr. Eric Vey, the now retired Erie forensic pathologist who preformed the autopsy on Morrison, testified Tuesday that Morrison died of blunt force trauma to the trunk.
Vey said some of the injuries were similar to what he would often associated with a fatal car crash.
Stribling-Jackson’s sentencing is scheduled for March 31 at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom I of the Venango County Court House.
