According to law enforcement in the Volunteer State, a man has been arrested for the brutal murder of his 3-month-old son.
Adrien Dokes, 18, is accused of first-degree murder for perpetuating aggravated child abuse, according to Knox County Sheriff’s Office records.
The defendant was arrested on Thursday evening, according to a press release issued by the Knoxville Police Department.
Officers were dispatched to an apartment on Forestal Drive in Knoxville around 8 p.m. on Thursday to respond to a “unresponsive infant,” according to the police department.
The child was then rushed to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, where he died of his injuries shortly after midnight on September 12, police said.
The injuries were described as “severe” in the initial press release.
“Dokes, who was detained by responding officers and later questioned by KPD Homicide Unit and Special Crimes detectives, was taken into custody and charged with first degree murder in perpetuating of child abuse,” according to a release. “The circumstances surrounding this incident are still under investigation. The victim will have an autopsy at the Regional Forensic Center to determine the cause of death and the extent of his injuries.
An arrest warrant for Dokes obtained by Knoxville-based NBC affiliate WBIR provides additional details about the arrest.
The warrant states that arriving officers saw visible injuries around the baby’s jaw.
According to the warrant, during a custody interview after being arrested, the defendant allegedly admitted to squeezing both his son’s neck and chin in frustration. These actions caused the child to struggle to breathe.
The defendant also allegedly admitted to firmly pressing down on the child’s abdomen.
According to WBIR, the infant will undergo an autopsy to determine his exact cause of death and the extent of his injuries.
Dokes is currently detained in the Knox County Jail on a $1 million bond.
According to records, he will next appear in court for a bond hearing on September 15.
