A Bloomingdale mother is seeking help to give her son a funeral after he was killed on Christmas Eve in Sarasota, Fla.
Jennifer Dearman is asking for donations to bury her 6-year-old son Jimmy, who was smothered to death by his father, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.
James “Rick” Dearman was arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter after police say he sat on the child until he stopped breathing, according to the Bradenton Herald.
Police interviewed James Dearman’s live-in girlfriend, who said the 31-year-old 270-pound man pinned the boy against the couch with his body after Jimmy refused to go to bed and kept running around the room with his 7-year-old sister, the Bradenton Herald reported.
The boy screamed that he couldn’t breathe and tried to free himself, but he couldn’t, the paper states.
Jennifer Dearman and her family are hoping to raise $8,383.45 to bury her son rather than cremate him.
“Jimmy was a wonderful boy who I will miss very much,” she said. “He would make you laugh anytime. He was a very sweet, loving baby boy.”
Donations can be made to a Wells Fargo account set up to cover the funeral expenses. Jennifer Dearman also set up a GoFundMe account to raise money.
“I really just want to thank everyone for their support in my time in need,” she said. “It’s greatly appreciated. I’m sorry for the tragic circumstances. I plan to send a personal thank you card to everyone that helps.”
Donations can made to account number 9273600966 at any Wells Fargo branch or donate via the GoFundMe account at http://sav.mn/1kTE9Zn.