Aberdeen, Washington — A father is formally charged in the death of his young son after investigators made a devastating discovery — the boy’s body buried beneath the family home, hidden for what prosecutors believe was nearly a year.
Jacob Bevins now faces charges of homicide by abuse, assault of a child, failure to notify the coroner of human remains and making a false statement to a public servant.
His bail was increased from $150,000 to $750,000 at a court appearance Monday.
‘Is Aiden Safe?’ — He Shook His Head No
The case came to light in May when police learned that 4-year-old Aiden had not been seen in over a year.
Bevins initially told officers that Aiden was living with family in Idaho. Investigators say the story did not add up.
When confronted, Bevins became “very upset and started to look at the ground.” Police asked him directly if Aiden was safe.
Bevins shook his head no.
He then told police Aiden had struck his head in an accident and died. He allegedly admitted he had buried him under the house.
What Investigators Found
Aiden was found inside a tote on the property, wrapped in a garbage bag.
A preliminary report from the Thurston County Coroner’s Office revealed the full horror of what the child had endured — multiple fractures including to multiple ribs, as well as burn marks across his body.
A Child Abuse Expert Pediatrician reviewed the findings and confirmed they were not consistent with the story Bevins had told police.
When confronted with that, Bevins changed his story — claiming Aiden had slipped and hit his head while he was chasing him.
Prosecutors believe Aiden was killed in 2024.
Red Flags That Were Ignored
Perhaps the most painful part of this story is how many people tried to sound the alarm — and were not heard.
Aiden’s biological mother had petitioned for custody in December, alleging Bevins had neglected his children and had a history of domestic violence. There does not appear to have been a follow-up hearing.
Aiden and his sister had been living with Bevins while their mother was incarcerated. Crystal Singletary, the mother-in-law of Aiden’s biological mother, said the mother raised concerns about Bevins during that time.
“If you are a parent and you are incarcerated and you have concerns about your child, you should be able to express that and get some response,” Singletary said.
Aiden’s former foster parents — who cared for him for nearly two years — also raised concerns.
“He came into foster care because there were concerns for his safety and he was returned and now this is the outcome,” said former foster mother Magali Lopez.
“It’s not ok to ignore the red flags,” she added. “To ignore the signs that are there, things that are going to tell you something is going to happen.”
Singletary did not hold back in her response to the outcome.
“There is a special place in hell, and if there’s not, there should be one created for people like this,” she said.
At the time of his arrest, Bevins had three outstanding warrants — for motor vehicle theft, vehicle prowling and reckless driving.
Bevins is next scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, June 11.
A little boy failed by the system at every turn. What do you think needs to change to protect children in situations like Aiden’s? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
