Billings Man Charged with Infant’s Murder

30-year-old Jason Badger of Billings was arrested Thursday for the alleged murder of a child whose death was caused by repeated blunt force trauma, according to the autopsy report.  Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito said Badger was living in the same residence as the infant victim, but is not the child’s father.  Yellowstone County Deputies were called to the home on Hickory Drive on June 30 for a report of an unresponsive baby.

Badger, along with the baby’s mother and others were observed by authorities on the deck of the home.  Badger told detectives he’d bounced the baby on his leg and said the child threw himself off.  KTVQ.com reports that he was booked on a charge of deliberate homicide for the murder of 8-month-old Christopher Ray Hackerott.  He’s is being held at the Yellowstone County jail on $100,000 bond.