Mother Charged, Man Wanted After Baby “Brutally Beaten” To Death In Jackson

Friday morning, the Jackson Police Department charged the mother of a 1-year-old child who was found beaten to death in Jackson Thursday.

The mother’s name is Yolanda Hunter and she is being charged with Felony Child Abuse.

Chief Joseph Wade says he believes her charges will be upgraded to Capital Murder once the autopsy is complete.

According to Wade, another man is wanted. Chief Wade said they believe he was with the child just moments before he stopped breathing. He told the neighbor that the child was suffering and having a problem breathing and eating, then he left.

Chief Wade stated,

“The bruises, the trauma to that child, were not something that just started yesterday. This is something that has been transpiring over time. We’re going to make sure that we hold everyone accountable.”

Chief Wade said this was a cowardly thing for the man to do. Jackson police officers are looking for him, along with federal agencies.

He has been identified as 33-year-old Herman Coleman, who also goes by Herman Gardner.

“That situation yesterday bothered me not only as a police chief but as a father…”

Chief Wade said it appears that Coleman is an acquaintance or boyfriend of the mother.

There were four other kids inside the home. They have been taken by CPS to see if they have been victims of abuse.

Chief Wade says it appears that the abuse to the 1-year-old has been happening for some time.

“I’ve been in this department for 28 years, I worked in homicide for 9 years. it’s hurtful when anyone loses their life, I’m not minimizing the loss of life to anyone. But when you have a child, a baby that’s life is just starting, and you decide as an adult to take that away. That hits a little differently. It registers differently and we’re going to make sure that we don’t allow or normalize that type of criminal behavior. I am absolutely committed to reducing violence in the city of Jackson.”