LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — A New Iberia man who was convicted of murdering a 22-month-old in 2022 has lost his appeal of that conviction, authorities said.

Christopher Ledet, Jr. was convicted by a Lafayette Parish jury on Dec. 13, 2023 for the July 2022 second degree murder of 22-month-old Kaceston Freeman. Ledet was sentenced on March 13, 2024 to life in prison without the benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence.

Ledet appealed his conviction on March 14, 2024, arguing that there was insufficient evidence for the jury to have found him guilty.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeal affirmed the conviction and life sentence on April 23.

Ledet was babysitting the toddler, whose mother was his girlfriend, the day of his death. Prosecutors said Kaceston suffered a lacerated liver, a hemorrhage at the base of his brain, retinal hemorrhages and a scalp hemorrhage, and Ledet failed to report the injuries or seek medical care.

Kaceston’s mother testified that she worked each day from 4-11:00 p.m., and almost always had left Kaceston with her mother when she worked. The defendant began dating Kaceston’s mother in May 2022, and babysat Kaceston twice in July2022. After the first day that defendant babysat Kaceston, July 6, 2022, the baby was taken to the hospital by his mother when she discovered a bump on his head and with stomach problems. The couple split up over that incident, as the mother suspected that the medical issues had been caused by Ledet.

However, after Ledet plead with her to take him back, the mother agreed and allowed Ledet to babysit Kaceston again on July 20, 2022, prosecutors said. That was the day that the most serious injuries were sustained by Kaceston, leading to his being discovered the following morning by his mother, unresponsive.

District Attorney Don Landry said he was pleased with the ruling.

“This case has always been about giving this family justice and keeping our community safe from a dangerous defendant who preyed on someone far too young to defend himself,” Landry said.

Officials said Ledet is expected to continue to exhaust his appellate remedies, which include applying to the Louisiana Supreme Court for review of the Third Circuit’s ruling.

Latest news