Mother and boyfriend charged in the beating death of 3-year-old
A 25-year-old man is accused of beating to death the 3-year-old son of his live-
in girlfriend, who also has been charged. Hershell P. Kirkman, of the 5600 block of
Kingsbury Avenue, was charged Saturday with
killing Dashon Haskin. Authorities said Kirkman repeatedly struck
Dashon, lacerating his liver. Police said Dashon’s mother, Ericka Haskin,
22, admitted to hearing noises that she
believed were Kirkman striking her son, then
her son gasping. Police said she did not call for
medical help for several hours despite obvious
symptoms of injuries to her son. When police arrived at the home shortly
before 7 a.m. Thursday, the toddler was not
breathing. He was pronounced dead a short
time later at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Haskin is charged with first-degree
endangering the welfare of a child and is being
held in lieu of $300,000 cash-only bail. The St. Louis Medical Examiner’s Office
determined that Dashon died as a result of
blunt force trauma that caused the lacerated
liver. There was extensive bruising on the
child’s body. Kirkman admitted striking Dashon with his fist
about the torso. Kirkman is charged with second-degree
murder, armed criminal action and abuse of a
child. He is being held in lieu of $500,000
cash-only bail.