Baby Jackson Death: Father denied bond reduction; mother being returned to El Paso
Jeffrey Farrey’s bond will remain at $1.5 million after a bond reduction hearing Tuesday morning.
Judge James Carter said he will reconsider reducing the bond once the results of the autopsy of 5-month-old Jackson Farrey is released. Autopsy results can take up to six to eight weeks, according to New Mexico medical examiner office officials.
Jeffrey is in El Paso County Jail on a charge of injury to a child by omission.
The Farrey family, including Jeffrey, wife Jenna, 19-month-old Blake, and Jackson were reported were reported missing Nov. 15. All but Jackson were found on Nov. 17 at a hotel in Escanaba, Mich.
Law enforcement found a body Nov. 20 near Orogrande, N.M. that they believe to be Jackson.
Jenna waived her extradition hearing during a court proceeding on Nov. 20 in Escanaba, Mich. Jenna was being held in Delta County Jail in Michigan on a charge of being a fugitive of justice for violating her probation on a 2012 conviction for abandoning a child with intent to return. Her five-year probation sentence did not allow her to leave the state.
El Paso County Sheriff’s deputies are in the process of bringing Jenna back to El Paso and she is expected to return Tuesday night.
Prosecutor Penny Hamilton argued against Jeffrey’s bond reduction because he allegedly admitted to Escanaba Police in Mich. And to his parents that Jackson’s body was in the desert for about a month.
Hamilton also said Jeffrey is a flight risk because he went AWOL which led to the welfare check from Fort Bliss. Hamilton also said that Blake was taken by child protective services in Michigan because of significant medical issues and was “grossly underweight.”
Farrey’s attorney, Joe Spencer, had asked for a bond reduction to $50,000, saying the current bond is excessive given the charge.
Spencer said he is confident the judge will reduce the bond once the results show Jackson died of malnutrition. Spencer also said Jeffrey is not a flight risk because he has been cooperative with authorities and waived his right to extradition and has no criminal history.
Jeffrey’s family is trying to get custody of Blake from Michigan child protective services. Spencer said neglect of Blake was not under Jeffrey’s watch because he was deployed.
Spencer says Jeffrey is still on suicide watch, distraught and very emotional “his main concern right now is his son Blake”
Jeffrey’s next hearing will be Dec. 12 in Judge Carter’s courtroom for a probable cause hearing where the state will present any evidence it has against him.
