VIERA, Fla. – A mother and her boyfriend could be put to death for the murder of a 3-year-old.
Trial started Monday for Erica Dotson of West Melbourne, who walked into a courtroom as attorneys began to pick a jury.
Dotson’s boyfriend, Josh Manns, is also facing a first-degree murder charge but will be tried separately at a later date.
Prosecutors said Nance was abused for weeks before his death in 2021 at the Grand Oaks at the Lake Apartments.
In a 911 call, prosecutors said Dotson didn’t tell the truth about the injuries the child suffered.
“My son was in the bathtub, and my boyfriend had a seizure and he said he’s not breathing,” the caller told the operator.
During trial, the state is also expected to present text messages between Dotson and Manns.
West Melbourne police said Dotson called her son a jerk in the exchange of messages.
“Like clean the whole house up because CPS [child protective services] will be there in the morning,” the messages read. “Spiral fractures are like that man, they’re super common for child abuse.”
Prosecutors said when Dotson brought Nance to daycare, she told workers a duck attacked her son and gave him his bruises.
The state attorney’s office told Brevard County Community Correspondent James Sparvero that Manns will not testify against Dotson.
From previous hearings, it’s clear that attorneys for both sides will attempt to blame the other for Nance’s death.
Dotson’s trial is expected to last four weeks.