California Man Sentenced to Prison for Killing Brockton Toddler

BROCKTON – A California man will spend 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the 2016 death of a two-year-old Brockton child.

The Plymouth County District Attorney said 28-year-old Timy Jo Griffin of Long Beach, California admitted to involuntary manslaughter on Tuesday in connection to the death of his girlfriend's two-year-old son Nazeir Phillips.

Griffin pleaded guilty to the charge just as jury selection for his trial was slated to start.

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Brockton police received a 911 call for an unresponsive toddler at an East Main Street home in Brockton on Dec. 5, 2016.

The boy was found to have severe head trauma and was taken to Brockton Hospital before later being medflighted to Mass General Hospital for treatment, but he died three days later.

Griffin was 24 years old at the time and had been taking care of the child.

He told police that the boy fell off his toddler bed and hit his head during a tantrum.

But multiple medical experts told investigators that the toddler's injuries were likely caused by violent shaking or slamming, not from a fall.

Brockton Superior Court Judge Sullivan sentenced Griffin to serve 10 years in state prison on the charge.