Bruce v. State

Weltner, Justice.

Richard Bruce burned David Lee Jackson, a sixteen-month-old child, with hot water. The child died from his injuries. Bruce was convicted of felony murder, the underlying felony being cruelty to children, and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Prior to the injury, Bruce had abused the child, which caused the Department of Family and Children Services to remove the child from the mother’s care for a time. The child was returned to the mother with the stipulation that Bruce not be left alone with him. Bruce was alone with the child when the injury occurred. The child suffered…