Two charged in connection with 5-month-old's death - WNEM TV 5

Authorities have issued criminal charges against two people in connection with the weekend death of a 5-month-old baby.

Genesee County Chief Assistant Prosecutor John Potbury said Jordan Algee, Jr. died over the weekend. Police said the child’s mother took the boy to the hospital on Sunday, March 25 because he was having trouble breathing.

He died later that night.

>>Slideshow: Mid-Michigan mug shots<<

Lt. Matt Lasky with Mt. Morris Township Police said the boy died after something struck the child “impacting the organs.”

“The autopsy reports indicate the baby was killed by blunt force trauma,” Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said.

Now Rico Antonio Riggs, 19, of Flint, has been charged with felony murder, first-degree child abuse, first-degree child abuse committed in the presence of another child, tampering with evidence, and intimidating witnesses.

The boy’s mother, 23-year-old Temara Shaniece Reed, of Flint, has been charged with tampering with evidence, lying to a police officer conducting a violent crime investigation, being an accessory after the fact to a felony, and third-degree child abuse.

“The investigation has led us to Rico Riggs as the person who inflicted these injuries and caused the baby’s death. The mother has also been charged as an accomplice after the fact and for attempting to thwart the lawful police investigation,” Leyton said.

Reed said she left the child for a short while before finding him unresponsive.

"All I did was run across the street from the store and then when I came back," she said.

If convicted on all charges, Reed faces up to 21 years in prison.

Local day care workers said they saw Jordan a few days ago. They described him as a special and happy child who never quit smiling.

"He had a special little smile. He was just a healthy little boy. He was very strong in his limbs. There is nothing wrong with Jordan. They were telling me what happened and I was so shocked," said Barbara Griffin, employee at Charlotte's Web Childcare and Learning Center in Flint.

The daycare center is now trying to raise money to help Jordan's funeral expenses.

"I couldn't imagine getting up and picking myself up in the morning time after burying a child," one daycare worker said.

Copyright 2018 WNEM (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.