Authorities report that a heated dispute over baby wipes and money between Justin Golden and his child’s mother escalated into a tragic event.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Editor’s Note: Some readers might find the following details unsettling.
The sentencing of a father who admitted guilt in the death of his 8-month-old son, whom he ran over in September, has been postponed once again, marking the second delay within a month.
Initially set for November 13, the sentencing was rescheduled after the court identified a need for further evidence and witness testimonies to be presented.
Golden’s defense attorney has requested an additional delay, aiming to incorporate two more testimonies before Judge London Kite makes a final decision regarding Golden’s punishment.
Justin Golden, 21, has acknowledged his guilt in the charge of aggravated manslaughter in the tragic death of his son, Pablo Kye Golden. Originally, he faced three charges, to which he pleaded not guilty on February 18. However, under a plea agreement, state prosecutors have agreed to drop charges of vehicular homicide and failure to render aid.
In a letter Golden wrote to the judge in October, asking for leniency in his sentencing, Golden called the incident an accident.
“I[‘ve] never been in trouble a day in my life,” Golden said in the letter. “Prison is for harder criminal who knows that their intent is to commit a crime. If I’m guilty of anything ma’am, I’d be guilty of an accident that was caused by a mistake.”
What happened?
On the morning of Jan. 25, 2025, police said Golden was driving near the intersection of McDuff and Lenox avenues when he got into an altercation with his son’s mother, who was a passenger. 8-month-old Pablo was also in the vehicle at the time.
Police said the car came to a stop at the intersection, Golden opened the car door and placed the child on the ground. As Golden drove away, the vehicle ran Pablo over.
First responders took Pablo to Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A witness, who was driving directly behind Golden at the time of the incident, followed Golden while on the phone with 911, Golden’s arrest report states.
The 911 operator notified nearby police officers of Golden’s location, and officers conducted a traffic stop near Stockton Street on his vehicle. He was ultimately detained.
During an interview with police, Golden said he got into a verbal fight with Pablo’s mother, who said she wanted to get out of the vehicle.
“Mr. Golden stated he did not want to be responsible for the child, nor accused of anything with the child,” Golden’s arrest report states.
Pablo’s mother was also interviewed by police. She told investigators she got into an argument with Golden over baby wipes and money, according to Golden’s arrest report.
The woman said she did not move Pablo from his car seat and began walking away from the vehicle in an effort to stop the altercation.
She told investigators she heard screaming and when she turned around, she noticed her son lying in the road and Golden’s vehicle gone.
