Jeffery “James” Exon, also known as James Exon, has been found guilty of multiple crimes related to the death of his daughter, Aurora. The charges include aggravated child endangerment and first-degree murder during the commission of a felony.
Cause of Aurora’s Death
According to reports from local television WIBW, Aurora passed away due to malnutrition, which resulted from her father’s negligence.
District Judge Jessica Heinen sentenced James Exon to the maximum term of 56 years and 11 months in prison, as reported by The Topeka Capital-Journal.
The investigation into Exon started in early January 2021, when he called 911 to report that his 2-year-old daughter had stopped breathing. He informed the dispatcher that the girl had been “starving herself.”
Upon arriving at the scene, officials found Aurora unresponsive and cold to the touch, leading them to believe she had been deceased for several days, according to Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay.
Authorities discovered five empty liquor bottles in Exon’s room during the investigation. They later revealed that Exon’s addiction often led him to neglect both Aurora and her older brother, Theodore “Teddy” Exon.
At the time of his sister’s death, Teddy was four years old. During the trial, he testified that their father would lock them in their rooms for days without food while he remained intoxicated and unconscious in his bed.
Aurora was last seen alive on December 26, 2020, according to the statement made by Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay.