A Pasadena father accused of killing his newborn son has been found not guilty by a Harris County jury.
Xavier Darren Whitaker is now a free man after being cleared of the murder of his infant son, Xavier Whitaker Jr. The jury’s decision on Nov. 21 ends a years-long legal battle over allegations that Whitaker caused his son’s fatal injuries back in 2020.
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The case began on Nov. 11, 2020, when emergency crews were called to a Pasadena apartment complex for reports of an unresponsive baby. Paramedics rushed the newborn to a nearby hospital, and he was later airlifted to Texas Children’s Hospital. Despite doctors’ best efforts, the infant died nine days later, on Nov. 20.
An autopsy revealed the baby suffered severe injuries consistent with blunt force trauma. Investigators alleged the injuries happened while the child was in Whitaker’s care, and nearly two years later, in Aug. 2022, he was charged with murder.
Now, with this verdict, Whitaker walks free, clearing his name of the accusations.
