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A Saline County jury convicted Jonathan Welborn, 32, of Paron of two counts each of Negligent Homicide and Endangering the Welfare of a Minor in the First Degree in connection with the deaths of his two children that drowned when Welborn drove his vehicle into a pond. The jury sentenced Welborn to the maximum consecutive penalty on all offenses, 52 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
The children’s mother, Brittany Hairston, testified that the couple and their two small children, Sophia, 2, and Zane, 5 months, had been swimming at the Janeway Hole on the afternoon of June 28, 2017. Both she and Welborn had been drinking whiskey. The family, along with Jericho Cantrell, left the swimming area and went to a house on Highway 298 in Paron.
While the family was at the house, the children remained in the truck. Welborn smoked methamphetamine at the house. He became irritated with Hairston because she wanted to stay at the residence and play pool but he wanted to go home.
Welborn told Hairston he was going to take the children home and come back for her. Testimony showed that Welborn backed out of the driveway at a high rate of speed. The truck went down an embankment and travelled in reverse approximately 200 yards in to a pond where it submerged.
Welborn testified that he threw his daughter out of the window of the truck as it sank and tried to unbuckle his son’s car seat but couldn’t. He testified that he saw his son’s head go under the water. As the truck sank, Welborn escaped out of the window of the truck.
Welborn stated that he then went back up the hill, entered the residence and started playing guitar. Both of the children drowned. An expert in drug recognition tested Welborn shortly after the incident and found them to be impaired by amphetamines. His urine later confirmed that he had methamphetamine in his system.
The jury took approximately 20 minutes to find Welborn guilty on all counts. The Saline County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with assistance from the Benton Police Department and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
PREVIOUSLY:
- Sheriff’s Office Investigating Two Child Deaths in Paron JUN 29, 2017
- Recent Saline County, Arkansas Obituaries 070617 JUL 6, 2017
- Saline County Court Filings 082117 AUG 22, 2017
INITIAL POLICE REPORT:
The reporting officer, Joseph Traylor, wrote the following narrative from the scene of the initial arrest.
On 6/28/17 at approximately 2144 hours I was dispatched to 16956 AR HWY 298 for a report of a missing pickup truck in which two juveniles were seated. While en route, Central Dispatch advised me that the complainant, a female, appeared to be intoxicated and was not making much sense on the telephone. Central Dispatch then advised me that the pickup truck, a blue GMC 4X4, was possibly in a pond across from the residence. A few minutes later I was advised by Central Dispatch that the truck had been located in the pond and that the children were still inside. I notified Central Dispatch at that time that I was responding code 3 and I activated my emergency lights and siren.
I arrived on scene to find members of the Paron Fire Department outside the residence and beside the pond. I was informed by one of the fire department members that they had just located one of the juvenile victims, a six month old male. The male had no pulse, was not breathing and was not responsive. EMS personnel initiated CPR upon the male.
I then walked to the pond where I located the truck. I could see the headlights and taillights of the truck through the water. The entire truck was submerged. The truck was oriented such that the front of the truck was facing east. There was debris that appeared to have come from the truck strewn throughout the top of the pond. After a few minutes of searching, I observed that a fire department member had located the second victim, a two year old female. The female was not clothed. The female was also not breathing, had no pulse and was not responsive. EMS personnel immediately began performing CPR on the female.
I then spoke with Suspect Mr. Jonathan Welborn, who was standing beside the pond near where the fire department member located the female victim Mr. J. Welborn identified himself as the owner of the truck and the father of the two victims. He stated that he and his fiancée, Suspect Ms. Brittany Hairston, had been at “The creek” swimming and she wanted to stop at the residence to see a friend. He stated that he didn’t want to stop, but he did so anyway. Mr. J. Welborn states that Ms. Hairston went inside and he stayed in the truck with the two juveniles. He identified the two juvenile victims as Mr. Zane Welborn (DOB 1/5/17) and Ms. Sofia Welborn (DOB 6/15/15). He states that he went inside to check on Ms. Hairston, leaving Mr. Z. Welborn and Ms. Welborn unattended in the truck. He states that when he returned to the truck, it was missing, along with the children. He states that he then located it in the pond across the highway, at which time he dove in to try to rescue the children.
It was at this time that I was joined on scene by Sgt. W. Bean #620. I asked Sgt. Bean to place Mr. J. Welborn in the back seat of his patrol car so that we could keep him separated from Ms. Hairston. I then went to speak with Ms. Hairston.
Ms. Hairston was hysterical and was not able to speak with me in complete sentences. She had a very strong odor of intoxicating beverages upon her breath and person. I attempted to ask her about what happened, but I was not able to get intelligible answers. I then left Ms. Hairston with a member of the fire department.
Both Mr. Z. Welborn and Ms. S. Welborn were flown by helicopter to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for treatment. I was later notified that both children were declared to be deceased. Sgt. Bean notified the on-call CID member, Det. M. Hall #43, by telephone. He then told me that CID was responding to the scene.
I walked across the highway to the residence where the incident occurred and made contact with Jericoe Cantrell. Mr. Cantrell had a large cut on his leg and was bleeding heavily. I summoned EMS personnel to assist Mr. Cantrell. While he was being treated, I asked Mr. Cantrell to tell me what happened. He states that he had been swimming at “the creek” also and asked Mr. J. Welborn and Ms. Hairston for a ride. He states that they gave him a ride to that residence. He states that both the children were in car seats in the front seat of the pickup truck. He states that he was fearful that Mr. J. Welborn was intoxicated due to his manner of driving. Mr. Cantrell states that upon their arrival at the residence, he, Mr. J. Welborn and Ms. Hairston were inside “playing pool” for approximately 30 minutes or more while the children remained in the truck unattended. Mr. Cantrell states that they Mr. J. Welborn and Ms. Hairston then left the residence and returned after approximately 10 minutes. He states that upon their return, they were hysterical and were claiming that their truck had been stolen with the children inside it. Mr. Cantrell states that he was able to locate the truck in the pond, at which time he dove in to try to rescue the children. He states that this is how he injured his leg. Mr. Cantrell states that he located Mr. Z. Welborn still inside his car seat in the front seat of the truck. He removed Mr. Z. Welborn and returned him to the surface. He states that he was not able to locate Ms. Welborn. I provided Mr. Cantrell with my contact information and released him to seek medical attention.
I then returned to the area of the pond. It was at that time that Det. J. Ballard #D41 arrived. We were joined shortly thereafter by Det. Sgt. E. Davis #D30. I provided all of the information that I had gathered to Det. Sgt. Davis and Det. Ballard. At Det. Sgt. Davis’ request, Sgt. Bean transported Mr. J. Welborn and I transported Ms. Hairston to the Saline County Jail. I release the scene to the custody of Det. Sgt. Davis at that time and transported Ms. Hairston.
Upon our arrival at the jail, I transferred care of Ms. Hairston to the jail staff. Ms. Hairston was placed in a holding cell alone. We then transferred care of Mr. J. Welborn to the jail staff. Mr. J. Welborn was also placed in a holding cell alone. I then completed the required booking paperwork, charging each with Endangering the Welfare of a Minor 1st degree (5-27-205) Class D Felony. I then left them in the custody of the jail staff.
After departing the jail, I was contacted by telephone by Det. Sgt. Davis and asked to return to the jail to assist in the performance of a DRE examination upon Mr. J. Welborn. At his request, I completed the Arkansas DWI Statement of Rights Form with Mr. J. Welborn. Mr. J. Welborn stated that he understood each right individually and collectively. He then agreed to take a breath and urine test. He then initialed and signed the form appropriately.
I conducted the Intoxilyzer BAC test upon Mr. J. Welborn and received a result of .000. The test number was 2570 and the time of test was 0159. I turned the rights form and a copy of the BAC results over to AGFC Ofc. S. Paul #152. Ofc. Paul then performed the remainder of the the DRE examination.
This article has an update from Oct 8, 2021 at Court rules appeal has no merit in 52-year sentencing of Paron man after children drowned