Father Will Not Face Charges in Baby’s Death

No charges will be filed against John Don, a Canoga Park man who was arrested on suspicion of murdering his infant daughter, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Don, 25, who was arrested Friday at his Sherman Way apartment, was released Monday evening after Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert L. Cohen reviewed the case and concluded that there was “insufficient evidence for a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt.”

“Other than having the opportunity, which others also could have had, there is just not enough evidence,” Cohen said. “There are also a lot of inconsistencies in the witnesses’ statements. I don’t think there is enough there for a murder conviction.”

Child-abuse unit detectives on the case were not available Tuesday for comment.

Don also could not be reached for comment. However, the family’s minister, Tony Jackson, assistant pastor at the evangelical Neighborhood Church in Woodland Hills, said the family was excited that Don was released.

“In one regard, I’m not surprised because I’ve said all along that their intention was to get a confession from him,” said Jackson, who described Don as a born-again Christian and a recovering alcoholic.

“John is excited to be home, but he’s still concerned that the case has not been closed,” Jackson said. “John has never veered from his contention that he is innocent. He is very hurt that the investigation has gone as far as it has. It has not been handled very well.”

Kryistal Marie Don was 4 months old when she was pronounced dead on St. Patrick’s Day this year after being found unresponsive by her 11-year-old baby-sitter. She was initially believed to have died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, but a coroner’s report later concluded that the death was caused by cerebral trauma.

The case has been frustrating for police. There were signs of prior abuse on the baby before she died, including alleged bite marks on the baby’s buttocks and bruises on her scalp.

Both parents--whose other children, ages 3 and 4, remain in their custody--took lie detector tests. Don passed, but his wife, Jackie Ramsey, failed.

Jackson said he believes Don remained the police’s main suspect because of his history of domestic violence. Don had been jailed twice for beating Ramsey, but she has said she believes he is innocent.