Man blamed ‘karma’ for beating girlfriend’s 2-year-old to death, trying to fake drowning: Police

Ricky Larkin (Lake County Jail).

Ricky Larkin (Lake County Jail).

A 32-year-old man in Indiana has been arrested for allegedly killing his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son. Ricky Larkin was taken into custody this week and charged with one count of murder in the brutal slaying of young Je’Loni Smith, authorities announced.

According to a news release from the Gary, Indiana Police Department, officers at about 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 4, 2024, responded to a call for assistance at a residence in the 300 block of Arthur Street, about 160 miles northwest of Indianapolis. The call came from the Gary Fire Department in reference to a 2-year-old child inside the home that was not breathing.

Upon arriving at the scene, first responders located the toddler, saying the child was unresponsive and “appeared to be lifeless.” An adult male at the home said he was the victim’s father and told authorities the toddler was “in the bathtub when he discovered him not breathing.” The supposed father — later identified as Larkin, who is not the boy’s father — said he performed CPR but couldn’t resuscitate the child.

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