OGDEN (AP) -- An Ogden man accused of killing his 17-month-old son has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
Jason Whittier, 20, is charged with first-degree felony murder for the beating death of Elijah C. Fisher, who lived with his mother in Layton.Whittier will undergo psychiatric evaluations and 2nd District Judge Roger Dutson said Tuesday he will review those reports on March 2.
Elijah was visiting his father in Odgen on Dec. 21 when Whittier called 911 because the child had stopped breathing.
The toddler was taken to McKay-Dee Hospital, then transferred to Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City where he remained in critical condition until he died on Dec. 24.
At Whittier's preliminary hearing last week, Ogden police Detective David Lucas said he talked to Whittier after doctors determined the child's injuries were suspicious.
At first, Whittier told Lucas he was lying on a waterbed with Elijah when he heard a "bump," the detective testified.
Lucas said Whittier then told him the toddler had fallen on the floor. Later, at the police station, Lucas said, "Jason broke down and said he had hit the baby."
Lucas testified that Whittier told him the toddler had cried, which made Whittier mad, so he started shaking him.
The detective said Whittier told him he put the child on the bed and punched him twice in the stomach with a closed fist, but he kept crying so Whittier shook him and dropped him on the floor.