The Wakulla County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Children and Family Services began jointly investigating the death of a 15 month old, male, child, James Hurley III.

The child was severely injured while in the care of Jeffery Cullen Duggar, a 38 year old, Crawfordville, man.  Duggar is being charged with homicide and is in custody at the Wakulla County Jail Facility.

The call came in on December 29, 2007 at approximately 10:50 p.m. when Deputies, Paramedics, and first responders rushed to 908 Whiddon Lake Road, Crawfordville, Florida. 

First responders were performing CPR on the child when EMS arrived. The child was transported to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.

In the past, the mother of the child, Crystal Sanders, would bring James to Duggar's residence for extended stays.  James Hurley III, had been in Jeff Duggars care since Christmas Eve 2007.  Duggar is a family friend of Crystal Sanders.

Duggar stated to Sheriff's Detectives that he and the child lay down on the couch at approximate 10:00 p.m. when Duggar awoke due to James kicking and hitting him. 

Duggar stated he was lying on top of James when he was awakened.  Duggar further told detective, when he woke up he noticed the child was blue around the lips.   Duggar then called 911.

James Hurley III was pronounced dead the next day, 12-30-07 in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.   An autopsy was ordered.

During the autopsy, several bruises and injuries were found on the child's body.  Multiple tissue and other biological samples were taken by the M.E. in order to determine the cause of death. 

The findings are; 15 month old, James Hurley III died from blunt force trauma to the head. 

Doctors in the case told detectives that multiple bruising had been caused while in Duggars care.  During the autopsy subdural bleeding was observed, cause by blunt force trauma.

The trauma was sufficient to cause hemorrhaging in the eyes and optic nerves.  The Doctor found an injury to the neck that was caused by a direct blow with an unknown object.

Jeff Duggar had been with the child all day on Dec. 29, 2007.  A friend of Duggars came over to visit, and the friend brought his son to play with James. 

The friend and now witness said James was acting normal and very playful. 

According to a Dr. with the Child Protection team, had the child received the trauma earlier in the day, the child would not have been playful; the child would have been incapacitated.

The case has been turned over to the State Attorney's Office for prosecution.