Murdered Baby Found in Downtown Vegas Dumpster Leads to Parents’ Arrests

Posted on: June 12, 2024, 12:33h. 

Last updated on: June 12, 2024, 01:27h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

The recent discovery of a dead and badly abused two-year-old child in a Las Vegas dumpster has led to murder charges against the boy’s parents.

Jacoby Robinson Jr.
Jacoby Robinson Jr., pictured above during happier times. The boy’s body was found in a Las Vegas dumpster. His parents were charged with murder. (Image: KLAS)

The deceased toddler, identified as Jacoby Robinson Jr., suffered from a brain bleed and had “significant” injuries to his buttocks, head, and torso, according to a medical exam following his death.

Doctors said the injuries were consistent with child abuse, according to Las Vegas TV station KVVU.

The boy’s mother, Diaja Smith, 23, and his father, Jacoby Robinson Sr., 24, were both charged with open murder and child abuse. Both were booked at the Clark County Detention Center on Friday.

They remained in custody without bail as of Wednesday

Child Reported ‘Missing’

Local police first got involved after the two-year-old was reported “missing” by Smith on Friday. She claimed he disappeared at a park.

She had been pushing the child and his siblings in a stroller. But after checking surveillance video, police said the baby didn’t appear to be moving while in the stroller.

Police said that Smith had walked over to Lewis Avenue in Downtown Las Vegas where she allegedly put the boy’s dead body into the dumpster on Friday.

“She went to great lengths to conceal the murder by moving the body, creating a false missing person event, and repeatedly lied to detectives,” according to a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) report.

Struck Boy With Belt, Cord

On June 6, when Robinson was asleep at their apartment, he heard “high pitch” screaming from a child, police said. Smith also had been beating the two-year-old baby, Robinson told police.

Later, Robinson revealed to police he performed CPR on the boy due to his injuries. But he denied knowing anything about the dead boy’s location or the fact that he was deceased.

Robinson also told police Smith would sometimes “go overboard disciplining him in the past” when using a belt or charging cord.

Another child, the twin of the dead boy, was found to have been injured and suffered from a brain bleed. He was in critical condition at a local hospital in recent days, according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS.

Smith blamed the injuries on the child having fallen off of a bicycle and she denied abusing any of her children, police said.

Nevada Child Protective Services (CPS) took custody of one of the other siblings, according to KVVU. In the past, CPS previously had taken custody of Smith’s children, authorities added.

Robinson fathered several children with Smith and lived at her apartment about four days a week.

Accused Killer is Pregnant

KLAS reported that Smith is currently pregnant based on what LaSwanda Williams, the dead child’s great-aunt, told a reporter. Williams fondly remembers the victim.

“He was a lovable child,” Williams told KLAS about the murdered two-year-old. “He didn’t deserve that. He was not trash. He was not a piece of paper you just pick up and throw in a dumpster.”