Sign up for the paNOW newsletter

Deceased son’s mother changes story, grandmother puts holes in it

Dec 2, 2010 | 1:07 PM

There was a turn of events at the second degree murder trial of Jordan Crowe, the man accused of killing three-year-old Dilyn Donald on Dec. 23, 2007.

It was learned today that Dilyn’s mother, Jennine Donald, was not away from the home as much as she originally testified on the day the child died.

Initially Donald said she had left the home that day for about an hour to prostitute herself. She said she did this to make money to buy food for the family.

After defence lawyer Greg Chovin showed the jury pictures of the home taken that day with a fridge, freezer, and cupboards full of food, Jennine admitted she wasn't prostituting, and said she only left the home for about 20 minutes.

Chovin suggested she left the home because she was upset with Dilyn being fussy, had gotten diarrhea on his hands and made a mess.

Jennine admitted to becoming upset, but denied ever striking her child.

More holes were poked in Jennine’s testimony when her mother, Heather Desjarlais, took the stand.

Desjarlais said she didn’t pick up Dilyn that day and that Jennine called her in the evening, crying hysterically, saying that Dilyn wasn’t breathing and Crowe was performing CPR on the child.

Desjarlais said it was during this conversation that the ambulances arrived at the house.

Jennine originally said she arrived home to find the ambulances in front of her house.

Jennine said today that Desjarlais threatened her to not tell police she had picked up Dilyn.

“She told me to watch my back, and that I’m a dead woman,” said Jennine. She also said her mother told her she was involved in a gang.

However, Desjarlais denied ever uttering such threats.

Chovin pointed out Jennine had never told police about this incident and it only was revealed at the preliminary hearing.

rpilon@panow.com

For more:

Deceased three-year-old's mother takes stand in murder trial

Man on trial for toddler’s death

Lead investigator takes stand in Jordan Crowe trial

Crowe denies hitting child in police tapes