A New Mexico father is facing multiple charges after allegedly killing his infant son by burying him alive in a ditch and then telling the boy’s mother he was with his grandmother.
John Hannon, 43, allegedly buried his eleven-month-old son JJ alive in February after taking him for a walk.
Hannon came back empty handed, claiming he had given the boy to the care of his mother who lives in Colorado, according to the Durango Herald.
The boy’s mother, Krystal Phillips, reported the boy missing just after 9.30pm on February 8 after Hannon allegedly refused to provide evidence of JJ’s location, an affidavit seen by the outlet said.
The infant, John Teigue ‘JJ’ Hannon, was found on February 9, with his head and left arm buried in dirt, a fractured skull and dirt in his airways, an autopsy seen by the outlet said.
According to the doctor who examined the child, he believes that JJ was buried alive, the Herald reported.
The boy’s stroller was found in a ditch where Hannon had been walking with his son off New Mexico 516, while JJ’s footprint was also discovered near where he was buried, according to the outlet.
During an interview with police, Hannon was asked if he had ever hurt JJ, which he denied,’ KOB4 reported.
John Hannon, 43, allegedly buried his eleven-month old son alive in February after taking him for a walk and said the boy had been left with Hannon’s mother
Hannon had taken the boy on a walk on February 7 and came back empty handed, claiming he had given the boy in the care of his mother who lives in Colorado
The boy’s mother, Krystal Phillips, reported the boy missing just after 9.30pm on February 8 after Hannon allegedly refused to provide evidence of JJ’s location
An officer asked why JJ was missing and if he was hurt, to which Hannon said: ‘Yes, he’s hurt bad.’
‘Did you hit him?’ deputies asked.
‘No, not technically,’ Hannon replied, before confirming that he told officers he left JJ because he ‘knew he was dead,’ the outlet reported.
JJ’s father claimed he had ‘made a mistake,’ and that ‘at one point in time’ he did love his children but had ‘changed,’ the affidavit seen by the Herald said.
‘We understand how deeply unsettling this is for our community,’ San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari said in a release from the department.
‘We are heartbroken over the loss of a young life in our community,’ the release added.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of this child. We are investigating this incident to our fullest capabilities and will relentlessly pursue justice.
‘We ask that you respect the privacy of the family as they grieve this immense loss.’
JJ’s father claimed he had ‘made a mistake,’ and that ‘at one point in time’ he did love his children but had ‘changed’
According to the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department, Hannon and his family were known to the agency, which said to have had a ‘history of involvement’ with them
Hannon was arrested following a welfare check on unrelated charges, and was found by deputies in an RV hiding underneath a blanket on a bed, KOB 4 reported.
He had a history of violence after spending 84 days behind bars for multiple charges in 2024, court records show.
According to the New Mexico Children, Youth and families Department, Hannon and his family were known to the agency, which said to have had a ‘history of involvement’ with them, the Herald reported.
In September 2024, Hannon was charged with striking Phillips’ 15-year-old son in the eye with his fist and pushed Phillips, the affidavit seen by the outlet said.
Four days after he pleaded no contest and received a sentence of 181 days on probation, police were called to his home on reports of ‘yelling and cussing.’
Hannon was charged with false imprisonment, resisting arrest, concealing his identity and possession of drug paraphernalia and he pleaded guilty to resisting and possession on October 9, the outlet reported.
He was sentenced to 364 days of supervised probation. Six days later, police reported to his home on reports of domestic violence and then again three days after that.
A child of Phillips told officers that their mother’s head was ‘slammed’ into the baby’s crib, but the aggravated battery charge was dismissed, court records show.
Previous charges saw that Hannon was charged with a misdemeanor DWI related to a car crash in January after he had allegedly T-boned another vehicle while under the influence of drugs, and then attempted to plant a bad of meth in the car he had hit
Phillips filed for a protection order against Hannon for herself and her children, but it was dismissed after Phillips did not appear in court.
Ferrari told the Tri-City Record: ‘This is another example of New Mexico’s failed criminal justice system.’
In a statement, Ferrari added: ‘There is no greater evil than individuals who hurt and kill children. You have my word we will do everything in our power to bring justice to this precious child.’
‘I want to thank our deputies, our detectives for the long hours worked and your dedication to this case. Many will never understand the toll this takes on your hearts and minds.’
Previous charges saw that Hannon was charged with a misdemeanor DWI related to a car crash in January after he had allegedly T-boned another vehicle while under the influence of drugs, and then attempted to plant a bad of meth in the car he had hit, the outlet reported.
Hannon was charged with felony child abuse resulting in death and second-degree tampering with evidence. He is scheduled to appear in court next week.
