{"id":8718189,"date":"2023-01-17T10:26:45","date_gmt":"2023-01-17T18:26:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eastbaytimes.com\/?p=8718189&preview=true&preview_id=8718189"},"modified":"2023-01-17T10:29:33","modified_gmt":"2023-01-17T18:29:33","slug":"man-convicted-of-murder-other-counts-in-boys-beating-death-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eastbaytimes.com\/2023\/01\/17\/man-convicted-of-murder-other-counts-in-boys-beating-death-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Man convicted of murder in 3-year-old boy\u2019s beating death"},"content":{"rendered":"

LAFAYETTE, Ind.\u00a0 \u2014 A jury has convicted a Michigan man of murder and other charges in the beating death of a 3-year-old boy in Lafayette.<\/p>\n

Jermaine Garnes of West Bloomfield was convicted of murder, neglect resulting in death, aggravated battery resulting in death and battery on a person under 14 resulting in death. The jury returned the verdicts Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Garnes and his girlfriend, Crystal Lynn Cox, were both charged in August 2021 in connection with the death of 3-year-old Zeus Cox. The little boy was found dead on a bedroom floor with bruises on his chest, stomach and other areas of his body.<\/p>\n

The couple gave police conflicting accounts. Cox said he had fallen on concrete and later ran into a table. Garnes trold police Zeus had fallen off his bike.<\/p>\n

Witnesses told police Garnes struck the 3-year-old with his fist.<\/p>\n