Jury finds father not guilty of killing Baby Delano
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) -A jury has found Willie Wilson not guilty in the murder of his infant son, Delano.
Closing arguments began Friday morning in the jury trial for the Indianapolis man accused of killing his infant son.
Willie Wilson faced murder charges in the death of this six-month-old son, Delano.
The boy went missing in August of 2014.
Police said Wilson initially claimed a couple snatched the child from him. Wilson initially helped in the search for the child.
Later, police arrested him and said he made the story up.
The FBI said it found 24 different searches in Wilson’s browser history related to child abduction before the child went missing.
Investigators said the boy is dead, even though a body was never recovered.
A crowd gather inside the courtroom to hear closing arguments. Marion County Deputy Prosecutor Denise Robinson told jurors there was a massive search for Delano, including Amber Alerts, searches with cadaver dogs, and even the FBI got involved. When the baby did not turn up, Robinson adds investigators were left with one conclusion based on the evidence, that Wilson killed his son and disposed his body.
“Homicide is the only explanation,” said Robinson. During the arguments Robinson says a witness says he spotted Wilson and a the baby’s mother Taniasha Perkins walking from a wooded area near the couples home. Prosecutors say cadaver got a hit on Wilson and the baby’s scent near an area not far from Eagle Creek. Robinson also adds a neighbor heard the couple arguing the night before Delano was reported missing.
Wilson’s defense attorney, Ikedigbo Nnaemeka, urged jurors to look at the facts in the case. In his closing statements Nnaemeka made the pitch that there was not enough evidence to convict Wilson of murder.
After the verdict was read aloud in the courtroom, family members of Delano’s mother fell silent. Some started crying, others were shaking their heads in disbelief.
Ella Perkins, Delano’s great great aunt, fought back tears when asked how she felt about the not guilty verdict. “We accept it, that’s all we can do,” she said. But at the same time, she vehemently believes Wilson was involved with Delano’s disappearance. She pointed to the evidence regarding the internet searches on child abductions. “I can just assume that maybe (Wilson) gave (Delano) to someone or perhaps he sold (Delano) to someone but he’s got something to do with my missing Delano, yes he does,” she said.
Lead prosecutor Denise Robinson said she was disappointed with the outcome but accepts to jury’s verdict. She said outside of IMPD continuing to search for Delano, the case is closed.
Wilson is expected to be released from the Marion County Jail Saturday morning and will be a free man.