Spotsylvania parents charged with murder after toddler dies at VCU hospital with cocaine in system

SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Two Spotsylvania County parents were charged with murder after their son died in Richmond with a “significant amount” of cocaine in his system.

Cinceir Croxton Jr., or “CJ,” was only two years old when he passed away in December 2023.

A grand jury in Spotsylvania County decided on Monday, Aug. 19, that CJ’s parents — 24-year-old Cinceir Croxton Sr. and 22-year-old Kayleighya Coleman — would be charged with murder in connection to his death.

“I took care of CJ like he was my own,” CJ’s aunt, Ja-Hnae Thompson, said. The 19-year-old told 8News that she had no idea the toddler was being exposed to drugs.

Thompson said she hasn’t talked to her sister, Coleman, in about two months. At this time, Coleman is being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

“I mean, I will always love my sister,” Thompson said. “But what she did to my nephew … I don’t think I could ever come back.”

At first, the parents were charged with child neglect, endangerment and cruelty. But now they’re facing murder charges.

8News legal analyst Russ Stone suspects the police found more evidence that led to the upgraded charges.

“The two adults charged engaged in some activity — whether it was allowing the child to be close enough to cocaine where the child may have gotten into it, or maybe even directly gave it to them,” Stone said.

It’s been about eight months since CJ was flown from the Spotsylvania motel where he and his parents were staying to VCU’s pediatric hospital in Richmond. It’s there where he died.

Thompson said CJ’s parents went to the hospital that night — but began thinking they were in trouble and went back to the motel. Police arrested them hours later.

Now, Thompson said she just wants justice for CJ.

“Our bond could never be broken, no matter how the circumstances are,” she said.

According to Thompson, neither of CJ’s parents were able to get out of jail to attend his funeral. Their next court appearance is Sept. 3.

Stay with 8News as we continue to follow this story.

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