An Aberdeen man has been charged with homicide by abuse and related crimes after the remains of his 4-year-old son were found buried beneath a home following a monthslong investigation.
Jacob Scott Bevins, 36, was formally charged Monday in Grays Harbor County Superior Court with homicide by abuse, first-degree assault of a child, failure to notify the coroner of human remains and making a false statement to a public servant.
The charges stem from the death of Aiden Scott Bevins, whose remains were discovered in May on property where Bevins had been living, investigators said.
According to charging documents, prosecutors allege Bevins caused Aiden’s death sometime between March 24, 2024, and Aug. 1, 2024, while engaging in a pattern of assault against the child. Prosecutors further allege he intentionally assaulted the boy over a period beginning in late 2023, causing great bodily harm.
Welfare Check Raises Alarm Bells
The investigation began May 12 when Aberdeen police responded to a reported missing-child complaint involving Bevins’ 6-year-old daughter.
Police determined the girl was safe with her mother and that the situation involved a custodial dispute rather than a criminal matter. However, detectives became concerned when they could not verify Aiden’s whereabouts.
According to court records, Bevins told investigators the boy was staying with relatives out of state. Detectives later contacted the relative, who reported never caring for Aiden and never having met him.
Investigators confronted Bevins with that information.
According to the charging documents, Bevins became visibly upset and shook his head “no” when detectives asked whether Aiden was safe. Detectives said he then admitted the child had died and that he had buried him beneath the house.
The following day, investigators with the Aberdeen Police Department and the Washington State Patrol Crime Scene Response Team located human remains buried beneath the residence.
Court records state the child’s remains were found inside a plastic tote wrapped in a garbage bag.
Injuries Raised Questions About Father’s Account
According to court documents, Bevins initially told investigators that Aiden died after accidentally striking his head.
After being advised of his rights, Bevins later changed portions of his account and told investigators the child slipped and struck his head while running to the bathroom, according to the statement of probable cause.
However, court records state investigators found injuries that were inconsistent with those explanations.
A pathologist identified multiple fractures, including both recent and healing injuries involving the shoulder blades and several ribs, according to charging documents. The examination also found burn marks or thermal changes on multiple bones throughout the body, prosecutors allege.
A child-abuse expert pediatrician who reviewed preliminary findings concluded the injuries appeared consistent with blunt-force trauma and were not consistent with the explanations provided by Bevins.
Foster Parents Say They Raised Concerns
Gary and Magali Lopez, who previously fostered Aiden between the ages of 1 and 3, told KING 5 they had long feared for the boy’s safety after he was reunited with his biological parents, and repeatedly reported their concerns to Child Protective Services
The couple said Aiden sometimes returned from visits dirty, appeared underfed and was exposed to dangerous situations, according to the outlet.
Additional Charges Filed
In addition to homicide by abuse and first-degree assault of a child, prosecutors allege Bevins failed to notify authorities about the child’s death and the location of the body for more than two years.
Prosecutors also allege he knowingly provided false information to investigators during the inquiry into Aiden’s whereabouts.
Bevins previously appeared in court June 5, when a judge granted a prosecutor’s request for a 72-hour investigative hold while charging decisions were finalized.
Bevins remains in custody as the case proceeds through Grays Harbor County Superior Court.
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