WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A Winston-Salem man was sentenced to over 20 years in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and intentional child abuse related to the 2021 death of his 23-month-old nephew.

Back on July 27, 2021, officers with the Winston-Salem Police Department responded to Peachtree Street in reference to a toddler who was having difficulty breathing. When EMS arrived on scene, 23-month-old Thomas Jones was unresponsive. The child was taken to Brenner's Children's Hospital for further treatment, but he died from his injuries the same day.

Officers initially determined that the child was left in the care of his uncle, Fernanda Jones, when he went into medical distress. An autopsy revealed that the child's cause of death was blunt force trauma to the abdome

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