Police charge DeSoto man with the murder of his 12-year-old son

by Daphne Brown of DeSoto TODAY

Police upgraded the charge to murder in the arrest of a DeSoto father, whose 12-year-old son died March 25.

DeSoto Police Lt. Mike Sullivan said the Dallas County Medical Examiner's office has ruled Jonathon Potts' death a homicide due to blunt force trauma. Potts was a DeSoto Middle School East seventh grade student.

“Based on this information, DeSoto Police have amended the charge against Terence Potts to murder, a first degree felony,” Sullivan said in information released March 26.

The medical examiner's ruling came one day after Jonathon's father called 911 March 25, Sullivan said. The elder Potts said his son had stopped breathing. DeSoto emergency medical personnel were the first to arrive at about 1:20 p.m., Sullivan said.

Both Potts and his son were in the family's minivan at a gas station at the intersection of East Pleasant Run Road and The Meadows Parkway.

Sullivan said Potts remains in DeSoto police custody at the city jail. He did not know when Potts would be arraigned by DeSoto Municipal Court Judge Scott Kurth. DeSoto police will transport Potts to the Dallas County Sheriff's Department following arraignment, Sullivan said.

Potts was initially arrested on a charge of injury to a child, according to information released by the DeSoto Police Department.

Grief Counseling

Counselors from throughout the DeSoto School District assisted East Middle School students and teachers with the death of their classmate and student.

Beth Trimble, the district's director of communications, said six counselors were pulled from other DeSoto campuses to assist students who might need to talk about Jonathon's death March 25.

DeSoto Middle School East Principal Donna Freeling sent home a letter with students March 26 making parents and families aware of the death.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of student Jonathon Potts on Tuesday, March 25. His death was a sudden loss to the East Middle School family, and we extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family,” the letter read.

Counselors are available to assist students and staff and will continue to be available as needed, she wrote.

Trimble said it is standard procedure to pull counselors from other schools to assist students and staff with difficult situations.

“If your child was affected by this news, we encourage you to be especially sensitive and prepared to offer support to your child during this time,” the letter read. “Additional resources for grief counseling can be arranged through your school's counselor.”

Freeling, in her second year as principal at East Middle School, said the campus would continue to monitor those who have been affected.

The letter read that funeral arrangements for Potts are pending. She said the information would be shared as it becomes available.

She encouraged parents or families with concerns about their child's reaction to this loss to contact the child's teacher, the school counselors or administrators.

“We care about our students and want to work together to answer any questions they may have,” the letter read.

Trimble was not sure of activities Jonathon had been involved with at East but she said he had attended a DeSoto elementary school for six years before leaving and returning in November 2007.

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