01-04-2025
Geneva man acquitted in death of 2-year-old boy
An Ontario County jury Friday acquitted a Geneva man accused of manslaughter in the death of a 2-year-old.
Jarrid Mix was charged with manslaughter in the September 2022 death of a 2-year-old boy, the son of Mix's then-girlfriend. Mix, now 25, was arrested in March 2023.
Geneva police said the boy suffered severe internal injuries to his abdomen and torso areas. The prosecution contended that the injuries occurred while the child was in the care of Mix.
The defense argued that the boy had fallen down some stairs several days prior to the recognition of his injuries, and that the fall could have been at the root of the injuries, according to trial coverage by WHAM-TV.
Assistant Ontario County Public Defender Mollie Dapolito, who represented Mix, said in a statement that the jury clearly was convinced of his innocence.
'Both the verdict, and the swiftness of the verdict, speaks volumes about Jarrid Mix's undeniable innocence,' she said. 'Jarrid Mix is grateful to the jury for their care and attention to his case, and is looking forward to rebuilding his life.'
In a statement Ontario County District Attorney Jim Ritts said, "We are deeply disappointed in the verdict in the Mix case. However, the difficulties inherent in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving the death of a child are real.
"While we accept the jury's decision, the verdict does not take away from the hard work and relentless pursuit of justice by both the Geneva Police Department and my office. Unfortunately, in our criminal justice system, we are not always satisfied by the outcome."
— Gary Craig is a veteran reporter with the Democrat and Chronicle, covering courts and crime and more. You can reach Craig at gcraig@ He is the author of two books, including "Seven Million: A Cop, a Priest, a Soldier for the IRA, and the Still-Unsolved Rochester Brink's Heist."
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Jarrid Mix acquitted in death of 2-year-old boy
