Jarrod Rudder Accused Of Murder For Slamming 2-Year-Old Into Wall

Police in Southern Illinois have arrested Jarrod Rudder in the brutal murder of a toddler whom police say was slammed against a wall.

Rudder, 24, was charged Monday, with first-degree murder for allegedly grabbing the child by the arm and swinging him into a wall and lamp. He is being held in the Jackson County Jail without bond. It was not immediately clear Tuesday if Rudder has an attorney. If convicted, Rudder faces a lengthy prison stay, according to Jackson County State's Attorney Michael Wepsiec.

"First degree murder in Illinois is punishable by a term of imprisonment between 20 years and 60 years," Wepsiec told The Huffington Post. "Because of the age of the child in this particular case, Mr. Rudder is eligible for an extended term of 60 to 100 years."

Shortly before midnight Friday, paramedics found 2-year-old Michael Pulliam unconscious and unresponsive at his residence in Elkville, a small town located about 90 miles southeast of St. Louis.

The child was taken to a hospital in nearby Carbondale and then flown to St. Louis Children's Hospital for more extensive treatment and remained in critical condition until Sunday, when he died as a result of his injuries.

An autopsy performed early Monday indicated the toddler's brain had been bleeding and he had several fractures and multiple contusions.

Authorities have yet to comment on a motive in the case, but investigators are convinced Rudder is responsible for the child's death.

"I have alleged that the defendant, without legal justification, grabbed Michael by the wrist and swung him by the arm, causing Michael to strike both a lamp and a wall with his head, thereby causing the fatal injuries," Wepsiec said.

According to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, the boy's mother, whose name has not been disclosed, was working at the time of the incident and had left the boy in Rudder's care. His relationship to the mother and child remains unclear, but police have confirmed they live together.

Wepsiec has declined to comment further on the case, citing Illinois state law.

"Rule 3.6 of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules on Professional Conduct prohibits me from discussing the facts of the case, so I'm not going to discuss ... motive, facts, evidence or anything like that," the veteran prosecutor said.

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Comments

[Sammie55]

10:01 AM on 04/27/2012

WHEN.. will we start charging the mothers for leaving their children with monsters?????

[Holly H]

12:22 PM on 04/26/2012

I'm getting really tired of asking..."whats wrong with people?"

[musicmasterno1]

12:05 PM on 04/26/2012

This man's family tree has no branches.

[Wanda Glass]

11:06 AM on 04/26/2012

Yet another headline case of a disposable child being raised in a disposable society by parent(s) who don't have a clue how to raise a child, nor do they care. Don't know all the specifics with the mother or the situation, but seems like this type of story comes up every week. Very much a sign of the times. Very sad.

[Missashhalee]

10:30 PM on 04/25/2012

Being the cousin of Jarrod I will say this. NO I do not agree with what he has done, yes he killed an innocent little boy, but hearing "poor mother" makes me sick.there is more to this story than any of you know. This mother had knew and even supplied jarrod with drugs to keep him around to watch her children while she went to work as a stripper. She should be charged as well because she knew exactly whom she was leaving her children with. Not only was jarrod doing drugs she was as well. She also had previous run ins with cps and why these children were still in her care is beyond me. Child abuse started before jarrod was moved into the home. I know jarrod would NEVER hurt a child sober, I've seen him with my children. Drugs does very bad things to a person. Thankfully the other child was removed from the home, and sadly poor michael paid the ultimate price of what happens to people on drugs. May he rest in peace. On a last note, jarrod will never make it to general population. So don't believe that this mother is innocent,.she is just as guilty as he is.

[bdl00]

12:12 AM on 04/26/2012

Maybe he should have taken opiates so he wasn't such a psycho.

[JustinAddison]

04:32 AM on 04/26/2012

I've taken all kinds of drugs, and never even considered harming a child.

[blodisnut]

09:44 PM on 04/25/2012

Isnt it great that Illinois doesnt have a death penalty?

He now will spend the rest of his life under a roof, getting 3 square meals a day, and getting the medical care that will keep him alive as long as possible.

And they wonder why Illinois might have to start charging for school bus rides...

Kill this %$*&er.

[NoBigGovDuh]

08:39 PM on 04/25/2012

How is it first degree if they do not know if there was a motive?

[Karen StovallStringer]

08:57 PM on 04/28/2012

Motives are not necessary to prove first degree murder. Well, except on TV. If you want, I can give you several motives beginning with he was jealous of the baby because he took up too much of his girlfriend's attention and he wanted it all for himself. Or, as his alleged cousin said, he is a mean druggie. When he's on drugs, likes to hurt people and this child was the only one available. I'm thinking the legal system doesn't have to prove anything besides the facts Jarrod was there, Michael was there, no one else was there and Michael was dead from blunt force trauma to the head.

[rachadw]

05:57 PM on 04/25/2012

Geez, I feel sorry for that child!

[musicmasterno1]

02:21 PM on 04/25/2012

Your child's safety should always come before someone you met at a crack house.

[jel3800]

04:16 PM on 04/25/2012

it should but how often do we read this kind of report - trash mother and worse shackup partner.
I know blanket statements are always wrong....but young people do not have any sense of responsibility

[PhineasGage730]

08:27 PM on 04/25/2012

Age has nothing to do with it. As you stating, we read this kind of report all the time, and the ages vary so relax with the simplified conclusion.

[NoBigGovDuh]

08:41 PM on 04/25/2012

The story says nothing like what you are accusing them of.

[Cherie69]

03:07 PM on 04/25/2012

I couldn't agree with you more avion.

[antipodal2u]

01:47 PM on 04/25/2012

Enjoy prison tough guy

[SandyCastle]

01:37 PM on 04/25/2012

I am so tired of reading stories like this week after week. PLEASE PARENTS..........know who you are leaving your child with, whether or not they have a short temper, whether or not they are trustworthy, whether or not it is someone that you would trust with your most prized possession. And if you have any doubts whatsoever..........if your child acts different or scared around certain people........follow your gut instinct.

[jel3800]

04:27 PM on 04/25/2012

you give these people too much credit by saying they care about the children in the first place. If they did they would not bring this type of trashworthless animal home to even expose their children to at all

[amaboss52]

12:58 PM on 04/25/2012

I'd be willing to bet this isn't the first time this pig has hurt this baby. Child killers should be put to death, period, whether they meant to kill the child or not.

[jel3800]

04:28 PM on 04/25/2012

the piece of trash ment to hurt the child bad enough that it resulted in death - same as wanting to kill

[NoBigGovDuh]

08:42 PM on 04/25/2012

Your liking of the death penalty creates a aggressive society that causes more murders.

[JustinAddison]

04:30 AM on 04/26/2012

Actually, a huge mega-statistical study a few years back showed that application of the death penalty REDUCES the number of murders, though this reality is somehow never mentioned in forums where people have an anti death penalty agenda.

[Lsharp03]

11:36 AM on 04/25/2012

Another case where the punishment should not just fit, but replicate, the crime.

[John Adleman]

12:57 PM on 04/25/2012

Give me 15 minutes in a room with him and it will. Let's see how he likes being slammed into walls until dead.

[MrSerendipity]

11:31 AM on 04/25/2012

You'll meet murderers, rapists and all sorts when visiting the inside of a prison. But even through all of the awful deeds they've done, most of them still look down on killing children. Jarrod just signed up for a very rough 20-100 years. He'll deserve every year he gets and every run-in with his new roommates. Killing a child is the most reprehensible thing a person can do. If he only gets twenty years, all of Illinois should be disappointed in their legal system. My thoughts go out to the remainder of the child's family through this difficult time. Hopefully they can find peace sometime in the near future.

[bdl00]

12:13 AM on 04/26/2012

I don't even understand how other inmates find out about prisoners crimes? Everyone knows children abusers get the toughest times so why would he go into prison then say "I'm in here for murdering a 2 year old?" ....

[SeeTheFnords]

03:47 AM on 04/26/2012

Usually molesters, rapists, etc get put into a protected area of the prison, with other "outcasts" for their safety. Prisoners and guards talk - very few secrets in prison.

[Mark In LA]

05:10 PM on 04/26/2012

Maybe he wants to die but just can't off himself. Still, there are better ways to go than being beaten to death.