Father dropped his 8-month-old son in the middle of the road as he “did not want to be responsible for the child,” before running the boy over with his car, killing him; sentenced
Florida – In a deeply disturbing case that shocked Florida residents, a 21-year-old father, identified as J. Golden, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the death of his 8-month-old son. The sentencing comes months after Golden pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter of a child and vehicular homicide—charges that stem from the unimaginable act of leaving his baby in the middle of a road and driving over him with his truck.
The incident occurred on the morning of January 25. According to investigators, Golden, his son, and the baby’s mother were driving together when an argument erupted—reportedly over baby wipes and money. The baby’s mother, seeking to end the heated exchange, asked to exit the vehicle. Golden responded by telling her he “did not want to be responsible for the child.” In a move that would prove fatal, he then removed the 8-month-old boy from the truck and placed him in the middle of the road. He shut the vehicle door, got back into the driver’s seat, and drove away—running over his own son in the process.
Multiple witnesses saw the horrifying moment unfold. One woman initially believed Golden had dropped a “bag of trash” from his vehicle, only to realize the truth when she saw it move beneath the tires. The infant’s mother, having exited the vehicle moments earlier, turned back upon hearing screams, only to find her child lying in the road, critically injured. Emergency responders arrived swiftly, and the infant was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after.
Golden was arrested later that day. In September, he entered a guilty plea to both charges as part of a deal that dropped a second vehicular homicide charge. During his sentencing hearing on November 13, Golden delivered a tearful apology in court, accepting full responsibility. “While I did not intend to kill my son, and had no criminal intent, I know that is not enough,” he said. “I failed as his protector, as his father, and I was the monster who killed him.”
Despite pleas for leniency from Golden’s defense team and statements from family members, the judge handed down the maximum sentence allowed. In a pointed statement during sentencing, the judge said, “I have seen people exercise more care, caution and concern for a squirrel that darts into the roadway, a lizard that is on the hood of their car.”
The tragic loss left both sides of the family shattered. Witnesses at the scene and members of the local community were also deeply affected, with one nearby barber recalling the trauma of seeing the child’s body in the road and trying to help the grieving mother. The victim’s maternal grandmother described him as a joyful and playful baby, adored by his entire family. Golden’s own mother echoed those sentiments, stating that both sides of the family had long shared a close bond and were now united in mourning.
While Golden’s guilty plea brought legal resolution, the emotional weight of the case remains heavy. The death of the 8-month-old baby stands as a haunting reminder of how quickly recklessness can lead to irreversible tragedy. For the mother, the pain of losing her child is permanent. For the community, the memory of a father abandoning his baby in the road—then driving away—will not soon be forgotten.
