Jacksonville baby died of asphyxia; mother says sock was in son's mouth

PHOTOS: Two charged after baby dies in Jacksonville hotel room 

Action News Jax is learning more about the death of 1-year-old Isaiah Keller on Jan. 22.

Keller died after he was found unresponsive in a Jacksonville hotel room, where he had been living with his mother, Lori Hopper, and Andre Keller, his mother's boyfriend.

Keller is not Isaiah's biological father despite having the same last name. Isaiah was living in a hotel room with three of Keller's biological children.

A newly released arrest report says that Hopper told the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office that Andre Keller tied up the baby twice with a blanket to prevent him from crying. He was bound by his hands and feet by the blanket, Hopper told JSO.

Hopper told JSO that she untied her son both times he was tied up that day. Her boyfriend has tied up her son in the past to prevent him from crying, Hopper told JSO.

Later, after a trip to the store, Hopper checked on her son and and discovered he was bound again with his shirt over his head and a sock in his mouth, JSO said.

Isaiah wasn't breathing, Hopper said, and attempts at CPR failed, JSO said in the report.

Andre Keller was questioned by JSO but denied hurting the child. He eventually cut off the police interview, JSO said.

An autopsy on Isaiah Keller said that he had died from asphyxia, and the death was ruled a homicide.

Keller was arrested and charged with murder and aggravated child abuse. Hopper is charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child.

Officers said drugs were found in the hotel room and video showed Keller and Hopper waited to call fire rescue for some time after finding Isaiah unresponsive.

The Department of Children and Families took custody of Keller's other children.

Cox Media Group