Trial begins for St. Louis man accused of killing son in 2003

CLAYTON, Mo. – The trial of a St. Louis County man accused of killing his 9-year-old disabled son began with a contentious day in court, marked by numerous objections and visits to the bench by prosecutors and defense attorneys.

FILE – Christian Ferguson

The disappearance of Christian Ferguson made headlines in St. Louis for several years. His father, Dawan Ferguson, was charged with first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death in October 2019. Those charges were briefly dismissed in mid-October 2020 but refiled within 24 hours.

Prosecutors allege Dawan neglected Christian, of whom he had legal custody, to the point that the child’s health deteriorated. Prosecutors say Dawan eventually killed Christian and disposed of the boy’s body.

On the morning of June 11, 2003, Dawan Ferguson called 911 from a pay phone outside a gas station at Page and Skinker to report someone had carjacked his SUV with Christian still inside the vehicle. Police later found the SUV but not Christian. Court documents said Christian would have died within 48 hours without his proper medication.

Christian was born with a genetic disorder of one’s metabolism called citrullinemia, which means the body produces more ammonia in the blood. As a result, the boy needed to be on medications and could only ingest a minuscule amount of protein in his daily diet.

Christian Ferguson was never found. He was 9. The boy has since been presumed dead.

Prosecutors say Christian was able to live a mostly normal, though challenged, life. Theda Person, Christian’s mother, testified that her son used to be able to walk and talk on his own, and could feed himself by hand. That was before January 2001.

Person said she and Dawan Ferguson had been instructed to be aware of signs Christian was in medical distress and to seek immediate help in such an event.

On Jan. 16, 2001, prosecutors say Christian was in his father’s custody when he began vomiting. Rather than take his son to the hospital that night, they claim Dawan put his boy to bed and took him to the hospital the following day. As a result, Theda said Christian was left with a brain injury and became disabled.


Posted:
Category: General News