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Justice for Jacob Landin: New Mexico’s Forgotten Child

At 9 months old, little Jacob’s life was cut short and no one has been prosecuted for his death.

Rivy Lyon
7 min readMar 10, 2021
Jacob Landin (Source: Provided by Eric Carter-Landin)

Jacob Jeremiah Landin was only an infant when he died of a subdural hematoma. When an autopsy was performed, a partially healed injury of the same type was found. He also exhibited a partially healed skull and rib fracture. Typically, these types of injuries are associated with durational child abuse.

It is unknown exactly what led to Jacob’s injuries, but the medical examiner concluded that the infant died from a blow to the head, most likely from an adult hand. His cause of death: a blood clot compressing the brain and causing severe damage known as a subdural hematoma, commonly associated with traumatic brain injuries.

Jacob Jeremiah was an exceptionally smart baby with an infectious laugh. His mother, Brenda, recalls him as a strong, happy child who loved to dance. He was wild and adventurous; always displaying bravery and curiosity. Jacob was never frightened of anything.

That all changed when his mother’s new boyfriend entered the picture.

When he was about 6 months old, Jacob’s father and mother split up. Along with his 5-year-old brother, Eric, Brenda moved Jacob from Texas to New…

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Rivy Lyon
Rivy Lyon

Written by Rivy Lyon

Investigative Journalist | Criminology, psychology & sociology B.A. | I’ve loved true crime since Forensic Files was Medical Detectives!

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