I’ll Kill One of Them Before I Pay Child Support: The Murder of 2-Year-Old Ja’Shaun Powell

Danny Platt slit his 2-year-old son's throat because he did not want to pay child support.

Danny Platt and Daniella Powell of New Orleans, LA, separated soon after the birth of their son, Ja'Shaun, in 2007. Danny had visitation rights and could see Ja'Shaun whenever he wanted. He had never taken advantage of his right to be a father.

Daniella eventually took Danny to court for child support. By now it was 2009 and Ja'Shaun was a two-year-old toddler, resulting in an order for back support in the amount of $4,000.

Danny was infuriated that he had been ordered to pay thousands of dollars in child support payments to Daniella. He expressed his anger to Daniella, which caused friction between the two.

Despite the animosity, Daniella never expected Danny to get so angry he would hurt her or Ja'Shaun. No one really expected Danny could do something so cruel.

When Danny called and asked if he could keep Ja'Shaun for the weekend, Daniella thought he was ready to be a father to his son. She agreed to the weekend visit. Danny never planned to spend time with his son.

Someone Took Ja’Shaun, Danny Claimed

Danny picked up Ja’Shaun on January 8, 2009, a Friday afternoon. Hours later he called Daniella. Frantic, Danny shouted that someone had kidnapped their son and hung up the phone. Daniella called him back, getting three different versions of events.

First, Danny told her that a woman had taken Ja’Shaun. Next, he changed his story to say that a group of men looking for a man named Johnny took him. Finally, Danny changed his story saying that men armed with AK47s kidnapped the toddler.

Danny even lied to Daniella about calling the police, information she learned seconds later when she called the New Orleans police herself and officers told her they had no reports of a child kidnapping/abduction.

After Danny was ordered to pay child support, he and Daniella began to argue. He was angry that he was forced to pay her money, so much so that it caused friction between them.

Danny Caved, Admitted to Killing Ja’Shaun

At the station, Danny told officers three masked men holding AK47s had kidnapped Ja’Shaun at the corner of Jackson Ave. and Brainard Street at around 11:30 p.m.. the men forced him to the ground at gunpoint, grabbed Ja’Shawn and drove away with the boy in a 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe or GMC Yukon with black tinted windows and shiny paint.

Police suspected Danny was lying; they suspected he knew more about his son’s disappearance than he told. His story just didn’t add up. As detectives continued questioning, Danny crumbled, finally admitting he had killed his son because he did not want to pay child support. He told detectives that he'd told himself he would kill Daniella or Ja'Shaun before he paid child support. After his confession, Danny led detectives to an overgrown section of Van McMurray Park in Central City where Ja’Shaun’s body lay covered in grass and brush.

He later told reporters that he was sorry he killed his son and that he was under a lot of pressure, never giving the media a single reason why he hurt Ja’Shaun.

Police initially did not release the results of Ja’Shaun’s autopsy, but later confirmed that his throat had been slit. Ja’Shaun bled to death.

Danny Pleaded Guilty to Murder

In 2013, Danny Platt pleaded guilty to capital murder. He was sentenced to life in prison. He is currently 36 years old and serves his time at Louisiana State Penitentiary.