I think one of the greatest injustices in life is that there are couples who would give the world to have a child of their own but can’t. And yet, there are people who don’t deserve children who can seemingly have them in droves. Perhaps that is too cynical of me, but it’s hard not to feel that way when so many kids suffer at the hands of their own parents. Children deserve to be unconditionally loved and cared for. They deserve to be clean, in fresh pajamas, and tucked in with a kiss.
It brings literal tears to my eyes knowing there are children who’ve lived entire lives never knowing these basic kindnesses. Perhaps the heaviest my heart has been in a while is after reading about the 2023 death of Cinceir “CJ” Croxton Jr.
On December 7, 2023, the 2-year-old Virginia boy died with cocaine in his system
CJ was living with his father, Cinceir Croxton, and mother, Kahleighya Coleman, at an Econo Lodge in Spotsylvania, partly to avoid authorities looking into the treatment of the toddler, according to WRIC. Croxton reportedly noticed the boy was unconscious and called 911. Emergency services rushed him to the hospital, where he died.
Detectives with the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office responded after a doctor determined traces of cocaine were in his bloodstream and called 911. Authorities arrived at the hotel room and found 70 grams of cocaine on top of a PlayStation and in an unlocked safe, Law & Crime reported. They also found a gun in a clothes hamper along with $4,000 in cash.
Authorities also found a Pack ‘N Play with a reptiles cage in it containing snakes.
CJ reportedly tested positive for salmonella, which is carried by snakes. Hospital staff tried to treat the young boy for salmonella, but both his parents refused treatment for him, per Law & Crime. To make matters worse, CJ also had sickle cell disease, a chronic illness that needs to be treated monthly. The little boy never once received treatment.
Child Protective Services was first made aware of CJ’s case when the agency was called to check on him after the father was seen blasting music with him in a car seat because he “couldn’t handle” his crying. The move to the motel made it hard for CPS to locate the family, and eventually staff marked the case as incomplete.
Croxton and Coleman were arrested several months after CJ’s Death.
Coleman was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the death of her son after a plea deal. Croxton recently pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and child abuse and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He reportedly testified that he “loved his son dearly.”
“None of these actions were accident,” Judge William Glover told Croxton, per WRIC. “It was a series of choices you made.”
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
