Ledarius Johnson Obituary, Death; – A woman from Calera has been charged in connection with the abusive death of a young teenage boy under her supervision.
Jacqueline Adams, aged 58, faces charges of felony murder and aggravated child abuse, as announced by the Calera police on Tuesday. The victim has been identified by Shelby County Coroner Lina Evans as 13-year-old Ledarius Johnson.
Ledarius was admitted to Shelby Baptist Medical Center on August 8, where he was pronounced dead later that same day. The specific cause of death and further details have not yet been disclosed.
The indictments against Adams, released on Tuesday, indicate that the alleged abuse occurred on several occasions at the family’s residence on Ivy Hills Circle between July and August of 2024.
Calera Police Chief David Hyche reported that Adams was apprehended on Monday in Gardendale by U.S. Marshals. The investigation involved collaboration from the Pelham and Alabaster police departments, the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, the Shelby County Multi-Disciplinary Team, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
“Safeguarding the most vulnerable members of our society is an essential duty,” Hyche stated. “Children, the elderly, and individuals with special needs often lack the ability to protect themselves, rendering them particularly vulnerable to exploitation and harm.”
