CASS LAKE, MN – A mother from Minnesota has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison for the brutal murder of her nearly two-year-old son, whose life was taken in a violent act that left his family and community reeling. Larena Jackson, 31, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after admitting she killed her son, Aaryan, in August 2023.
Jackson, under the influence of drugs, repeatedly slammed the toddler’s head into a bedroom wall, an act she later claimed she could not fully recall due to intoxication. Her plea was entered under the Norgaard basis, allowing her to acknowledge the crime while asserting a lack of memory about the specifics due to substance use.
Robert Ortez, Aaryan’s father, expressed devastation over his son’s death. “She took my baby’s life,” Ortez said. Struggling to comprehend the tragedy, he shared his disbelief and ongoing search for answers about Jackson’s motives.
The day of the incident, Jackson falsely reported to authorities that Ortez had run over their son with a car. This claim quickly unraveled as Ortez proved his vehicle was in the repair shop at the time, and he had been using a different car altogether.
When investigators entered Jackson’s home, they found evidence of the fatal incident—blood spattered throughout the residence and large holes in the walls consistent with blunt force trauma to a child’s head. Aaryan succumbed to his injuries after five days in the hospital.
In addition to the murder charge, Jackson faced charges of first-degree assault, malicious punishment of a child, and fleeing a peace officer. Though sentenced to 20 years, she will serve at least 17 1/2 years after being credited for 581 days already in custody.
The case has left lasting scars for Ortez, who believes the sentence falls short of justice. “She deserves life in prison,” he stated, contemplating the profound loss of his son.
For the community of Cass Lake, the tragedy underscores the devastating impact of domestic violence and substance abuse, urging reflection on how such occurrences can be prevented in the future.