MANCHESTER, NH – A father has been sentenced to 45 years to life in prison following his guilty plea in the tragic death of his 7-year-old son, whose fatal injuries were initially misrepresented as a mere household accident.
The New Hampshire Department of Justice announced that Murtadah Mohammad, 27, received the severe sentence for second-degree murder after admitting responsibility for the death of his son, Jaevion Riley. In addition, Mohammad received a two-to-four-year sentence for tampering with evidence. The court suspended this for 10 years, conditional on him remaining crime-free following his release from the murder sentence.
Emergency responders were called to a home on Eastern Avenue in Manchester on the morning of January 17, where they discovered young Jaevion suffering from critical burns to his face and body. He was unresponsive and showed no signs of breathing.
Initial reports suggested a tragic accident, but as the investigation unfolded, horrifying details emerged. Jaevion’s injuries were severe, with hospital reports characterizing them as torture and brutalization. According to his mother, Rainah Riley, Jaevion also suffered from a dislodged tooth and severe head trauma.
Mohammad initially claimed ignorance, asserting he had been in the shower at the time of the incident. However, investigators found no evidence supporting his story.
Prosecutors revealed that Mohammad attempted to cover up his son’s grievous injuries by staging an accident. Ultimately, he confessed in court to abusing his child and failing to seek medical assistance timely enough to potentially save his life.
New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella commented on the gravity of the case, expressing gratitude toward law enforcement and legal teams for their commitment to justice. “This sentencing underscores the profound severity of Mohammad’s actions,” he stated while acknowledging that no legal outcome could mitigate the profound loss experienced by Jaevion’s family.
The community continues to grapple with the tragedy, finding some solace in the judicial process. As the sentence was handed down, it served as both a sobering reminder of the fragility of life and a testament to the pursuit of justice.