A New Hampshire man has been handed a 45-year-to-life sentence for the brutal murder of his 7-year-old son, according to an announcement by the state’s Department of Justice. Murtadah Mohammad, 27, was convicted of second-degree murder and falsifying physical evidence in connection with the child’s death.
Mohammad pleaded guilty on April 1 to the charges. In addition to his murder sentence, he received a two-to-four year consecutive sentence for falsifying evidence. However, the court suspended this sentence for 10 years, contingent on Mohammad not committing any further crimes upon his release.
The case dates back to January 17, when police in Manchester were called to a residence on Eastern Avenue. They found the victim, Jaevion Riley, unconscious and not breathing, with severe burns to his face and body. Mohammad, the boy’s father, initially claimed the injuries were the result of a spilling accident.
Rainah Riley, Jaevion’s mother, described her son’s injuries as torture, mutilation, and brutalization. She recounted that Jaevion had burns, a missing tooth, and blunt force trauma to his head. She told authorities that Mohammad had intended to kill their child.
Mohammad initially told police that he was in the shower when his son was injured and did not know how the boy got hurt. However, investigators found no evidence of anyone having recently taken a shower. Authorities later determined that Mohammad had staged the spill accident to cover up his son’s scalding injuries.
In court, Mohammad admitted to physically abusing his son and failing to seek prompt medical attention for his injuries. His admission and subsequent sentencing have brought a tragic case to a close.
“This was a heartbreaking case, and today’s sentence reflects the severity of the defendant’s actions,” said Attorney General John M. Formella in a statement. “We are deeply grateful to the trial team, investigators, and Manchester Police for their hard work and dedication in securing justice for Jaevion Riley. While no sentence can undo this tragedy, we hope it offers some measure of accountability and closure.”
Tags: New Hampshire, child murder, Murtadah Mohammad, Jaevion Riley, second-degree murder, falsifying physical evidence, child abuse, Manchester Police, Attorney General John M. Formella