DeSoto boy’s death allegedly caused by beating from father

by Brian Allen of Best Southwest Citizen

Police reports indicate Terence Potts struck his son 20-30 times with an extension cord and a stick.

DESOTO — More facts are emerging about the tragic death of 12-year-old Jonathon Potts, who DeSoto police believe died at the hands of his father Terence.

Police reports indicate Terence Potts struck his son 20-30 times with an extension cord and a stick. Terence Potts originally stood charged with injury to a child, a charge upgraded to murder after Jonathon died. The medical examiner’s report said the cause of the young boy’s death was blunt force trauma.

In less jargonish but equally correct terms, Jonathon was beaten until his tiny body could no longer withstand it.

Terence Potts stopped at the Speedy Mart convenience store and called 911 at around 10:25 a.m. March 25. The transcript and recording of that desperate call are now available.

Dispatcher: Is your son able to talk to you at all?

Caller: Jonathon!

Dispatcher: Sir, I need you to talk to me. Is your son able to talk to you at all?

Caller: No. He is not responding ma’am. He’s lying here laid out.

Dispatcher: Okay. Is he in the car or outside of the car?

Caller: He’s sitting in the car. He’s sitting in the car.

DeSoto paramedics responded and gave CPR to the unconscious child. He went into cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital. Medical personnel were able to revive him, but he died later at Charlton Methodist Hospital in Dallas. Ken Miller, a friend of the family who referred to Terence Potts as his “spiritual brother,” happened to be walking by the convenience store where the nightmare unfolded. He told CBS 11 News that he saw Terence Potts take his son out of the car and place him on the ground. Miller said he could tell the young boy would probably not make it.

Jonathon’s mother told police Terence spanked the boy because he didn’t come the night before. At Potts’ arraignment, the judge set his bail at $1 million. DeSoto Police spokesman Lt. Mike Sullivan said the investigation is still ongoing.