SYRACUSE – A man accused of killing a former Cortland boy now faces more severe charges: murder, but whether Cortland County officials knew the suspect had previously abused a child remains unclear.
Joshua Emmons, 26, of DeWitt, was charged with second-degree murder, a felony, in the death of his son, 4-year-old Rykelan Brown, formerly of Cortland, along with the original charges of first-degree manslaughter, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, Onondaga County Chief Assistant District Attorney Jarrett Woodfork said Wednesday at a news conference in Syracuse.
Rykelan formerly lived in Cortland. The Cortland County Family Court released the boy to his father’s custody in March. He died two months later, May 29, after three days in a coma. Emmons originally told police the boy fell down a set of stairs, but an autopsy determined that was impossible.
“The fatalities are based on an assault, and/or striking, or shaking, that caused a subdural hematoma, a brain injury, to Rykelan Brown, which was the fatal injury,” Woodfork said.
This happened on or near May 26, Woodfork said.
“Rykelan had been in the care of his father roughly between March 29 and May 26 of 2024, and sustained other bruises and injuries indicative of excessive corporal punishment – at the least,” Woodfork said.
Emmons had previously been convicted of abusing a child, spending almost a year in prison in 2019. Woodfork did not know whether the Cortland County Department of Social Services knew of the conviction.
“It does appear that Cortland County had a case open with Rykelan’s mother, until he was transferred to the care of two foster parents,” Woodfork said after the news conference. “Mr. Emmons was later identified as the biological father and a search for the suitable placement and a search for a suitable placement for Rykelan had begun.”
“I can’t speak to their knowledge of his 2019 conviction, ultimately they can and may have reviewed that and investigated that, due to the age and circumstances, they may have made that determination with all relevant information,” Woodfork said. “I can’t speak to what, if any, changes can be made, especially in Cortland County, without truly understanding what decisions were made.”
Cortland County Social Services Director Kristen Monroe declined comment. State law prohibits social services officials from commenting on specific cases.
Emmons’ involvement with Onondaga County Child Protective Services was minimal, Woodfork said. Voluntary services were offered to Emmons, which he declined.
Woodfork said Emmons will appear before an Onondaga County Court judge likely within the next two weeks.
Police arrested Emmons July 30 after the autopsy determined the boy could not have died from a fall, Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office representative Thomas Newton previously said.
