Mo. mom in court for death of 3-year-old Blake Litton

MORGAN COUNTY, Mo. - February 16, 2012.

5:12 a.m.

Thomas “T.J.” Presley called 911. He knew 3-year-old Blake Litton was in trouble.

According to those who testified in a Morgan County courtroom Wednesday, Presley said the boy had been hit by a car near 135 N. Buttons Road.

Deputy Michael Chin was second to arrive after EMS and other medical workers. He remembered seeing three fire trucks, an ambulance and a black SUV.

By that point, Blake Litton was being worked on by medics in the back of the ambulance.

Chin said he immediately asked Presley what happened.

Chin recalled Presley saying that he pulled over so that Blake could use the restroom. Presley told him the two were urinating in the ditch when Blake wandered into the road and was struck by a vehicle.

But Chin testified Wednesday that he couldn’t find any evidence to support that story.

He testified that Jamie Litton, Blake's mother, showed up at the alleged crash scene within an hour of his arrival.

With no indication of a crash, the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol started asking questions.

Soon there after, Litton and Presley were charged in the boy’s death. Both were held on bond and scheduled for preliminary hearings. Litton sat through hers on Wednesday. Presley waved his right to an initial hearing.

Litton had been in a custody battle with her ex-husband, who is Blake’s biological father, for months at the time of his death.

Stacey Mosher, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, testified on Wednesday that the couple exchanged multiple text messages about Blake’s welfare throughout the morning.

She testified that at about 3:30 a.m., Presley texted that he had “lost it” when Blake messed his pants. At 4 a.m., Presley said Blake’s body was “black and purple.” Several more messages followed, until finally, at 4:45 when Presley said he thought Blake was ‘paralyzed.’

Fifteen minutes later, Presley drove Blake and his sister to the Golden Age Nursing Center where Litton was working an overnight shift at the time. According to Mosher’s testimony, Litton said her son was hunched over and breathing softly.

No one called 911.

Instead, Mosher said that three minutes later, Presley drove away with Litton’s children again.

Litton went back to work at the nursing home.

Then, finally, at 5:12 a.m., emergency medical crews were finally called. However, they weren’t called to Blake’s home but rather 135 N. Buttons Road.

Testimony showed Presley told deputies the hit-and-run accident were what caused Blake’s injuries.

He died at the hospital of blunt force trauma.

Those who loved him most told 41 Action News on Wednesday that they believe the 3-year-old is now in heaven.

Blake’s grandfather shared with 41 Action News on Wednesday that he called DFS on January 2, 2012 out of fear for his two grandchildren. He demands to know why the system let them down.