TACOMA, WA – Wednesday Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist charged Jamie Thompson, 34, with murder in the second degree for shaking an 8-month-old Tacoma boy to death. The defendant was arraigned today at 1:30 p.m. in room 270 of the County-City Building in Tacoma.

“This is a horribly sad case,” said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist.  “The defendant, who has a long criminal history, is being held on $1,000,000 bail.”

The victim’s father left the child in the defendant’s care for several days while he was making new living arrangements. On the morning of April 11, 2014, the defendant called the father to report that the baby was vomiting and had mucus coming from his nose. When the father arrived at the defendant’s home, he rushed his son to the hospital. The victim was admitted to the intensive care unit with severe brain injuries, retinal hemorrhages and bruises covering his body. He died a short time later.

Pierce County Sheriff’s detectives determined the injuries sustained by the victim were inflicted during the time the baby was in the defendant’s exclusive care and were consistent with the baby being violently shaken. The defendant was arrested and booked into the Pierce County Jail yesterday.

The defendant has eight prior felony convictions as an adult, the most recent for Custodial Assault, as well as eleven misdemeanor convictions for crimes including assault, public fighting, and theft.

Charges are only allegations and a person is presumed innocent unless he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.