No bond for man accused of killing girlfriend's two-year-old son

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The man facing charges for the death of his girlfriend’s two-year-old son has been denied bond. Meanwhile, the State Attorney’s Office released new details about the case.

The judge not only denied bond for Jonathan Pursglove, but also questioned whether Victoria Toth also violated the terms of her bond.

Pursglove is accused of torturing and killing two-year-old Jayce Martin, the son of Toth. Police said she never took Jayce to the hospital to get help.  On July, 18, 2018, he was found dead in a pool of vomit.

The medical examiner said Jayce died of blunt force trauma to his abdomen. His head and body were covered in bruises. According to newly released interrogation recordings, Pursglove said he did not know what happened to the boy, just that he was sick before he went to bed.

“He usually never goes right to sleep,” Pursglove said to a detective. “So he kept sitting up and like, calling, like, ‘Tori, Tori, John!’ and we’re like ‘Dude go to sleep,’ so eventually he went to sleep.”

Now, six months later, Pursglove wanted out on bond before trial. A request the judge almost considered until she heard testimony from his mother.

A state attorney asked Mara Pursglove, “Your son did not explain to you that no contact meant no contact either directly, indirectly or through a third party?” “No,” she replied.

Mara Pursglove came to court with Toth. For the past few months she said she had been taking her to the jail to visit her son, despite a ‘no contact’ order.

“The testimony I just heard today, I will deny your motion for bond,” Judge Gail A. Adams said.

A victory for Pamela Lawson, an extended family member to Pursglove who has befriended Jayce’s father Robert Martin.

“I’m happy,” Lawson said. “I’m glad for society because – rules – he doesn’t think apply to him.”

The boy’s father lives in Missouri and could not attend the bond hearing. Instead, he wrote a letter to the judge asking that Pursglove not be let out.

He wrote, “The pain that I feel at the loss of my son is indescribable. I do not want anyone else to feel the unending torture I feel... I wish I could hold my son and speak with him, but that isn't going to happen. Please don't take my son's death lightly...”

Now the State Attorney’s Office is looking into whether Toth also violated her ‘no contact’ order while out on bond.  

Pursglove and Toth are each charged with aggravated manslaughter on a child. The trial is scheduled for July.