Joseph David Heard, left, was given the death penalty for murdering his 2-year-old stepson because he took too long to get a juice box, according to prosecutors. The boy’s mother, Hailey Heard, had been previously found guilty of murder. (Harrison County Sheriff’s Office)
A 41-year-old man has been sent to death row after a jury found him guilty of fatally beating his 2-year-old stepson in Mississippi. Mississippiaccording to reports.
The jury in Biloxi took two hours on Friday to determine that Joseph David Heard deserved to be sentenced to death for the terrible death of Hayden Lee Bataille, the Sun Herald newspaper reported. Jurors took just 45 minutes to find Heard guilty of first-degree murder.
“May God have mercy on your soul,” Judge Larry Bourgeois said, as reported.
Records show that Hayden’s mother and Heard’s wife, 24-year-old Hailey Heard, had already been convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. She reportedly testified against him during the trial.
Paramedics found Hayden unconscious after his father called 911 on Dec. 16, 2021. Doctors declared the victim dead 11 days later. The reason for the beating was Hayden taking too long to find a juice box, as the court heard. Joseph Heard repeatedly hit the boy in the mouth and head, the Sun Herald reported.
Hailey Heard reportedly testified that her husband continued to beat the toddler even as he cried. She told jurors that she saw her husband lift the boy up with one hand and punch him with the other. Then she reportedly put her hand over her son’s mouth and proceeded to suffocate him.
Joseph Heard also testified at his trial, reportedly denying he ever hurt the boy and blamed the injuries on the toddler playing rough. But Hailey Heard described how her husband would beat Hayden as a punishment.
Emergency room doctors described Hayden’s terrible injuries at trial.
“It was one of the most horrific scenes I’ve seen as an ER doctor,” Dr. Leanne Lee testified, according to the Sun Herald. “I had never seen a kid that had suffered so much trauma.”
Harrison County District Attorney Crosby Parker reportedly said he had no choice but to pursue the death penalty due to the “brutal and heinous” nature of the crime.
“We commend the Harrison County jury for agreeing with us,” Parker reportedly added.