Family Seeks 'Justice For Jake' With Facebook Posting

Lisa Monahan, News 9

EDMOND, Oklahoma -- A Facebook page is calling for "Justice for Jake." The family of nine-month-old Jake Hedger started up the site after waiting seven months for answers in his murder.

Jake's aunt, Tammy Padgett, says her nephew stopped breathing while at a babysitter's house in Edmond. An autopsy report shows Jake Hedger died the next day from blunt force trauma to the head.

The medical examiner's office ruled the death a homicide, but it is unclear if the injury happened at the babysitter's or in the parents' home. The report also shows the nine-month-old had older injuries to his arm and a bruise on the top of his head.

Padgett says Jake's parents questioned the babysitter about the previous injuries, but received no explanation.

"I don't feel like we can grieve him properly because we don't have answers to what happened," she said.

Padgett said she hopes the Facebook page will get something moving in the case,

"Nothing is happening. We are not getting anything back from police or the district attorney."

Edmond Police say they are still investigating, but the parents are not cooperating. They say they have refused interviews and polygraph tests.

Padgett disagrees.

"They have both been interviewed by police and have taken lie detector tests, " she said.

She also said the Hedgers have even paid for an independent polygraph and pathologist.

"Without some closure in the case, they just can't move forward beyond their grief. They are stuck in the grief."

A document provided by a friend of the Hedgers indicates the Department of Human Services believes the Hedger's older child is safe to live in the family's home. The document says doctors believe Jake's injury took place while in the care of the daycare, not the parents.

Several attempts were made to speak with the babysitter to no avail.

More information on Justice for Jake is available at this link on Facebook.