Adrian Peterson
In September, Joseph Patterson was convicted of murdering two-year-old Tyrese Ruffin. On Thursday, Patterson was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole . He will also serve a concurrent sentence of 25 years for aggravated battery.
Ruffin was the son of Minnesota Vikings‘ running back Adrian Peterson. Peterson found out that Ruffin was his son two months before his death; the two had met for the first time a day before he passed.
Authorities stated that Patterson allegedly assaulted the boy and an autopsy concluded that Ruffin had sustained four blows to the head, causing his brain to bleed. Patterson maintained the boy was choking on a fruit snack and he had attempted to perform CPR.
Following the sentence, Patterson maintained his claims of innocence. “This is probably where people expect a guilty person to turn around and ask for forgiveness,” Patterson began. “I’m not guilty. All I did was try to help,” he said according to the Argus Leader. “Losing Ty felt like losing a piece of my heart. Put yourself in my shoes. Imagine dealing with that pain … and then be left with the finger pointed at you.”
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.
A fight broke out during the Los Angeles Angels-Atlanta Braves game between Jorge Soler and Reynaldo Lopez, leading to…
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel responded to leaked photos of him with The…
Tennis player Daniil Medvedev had a meltdown during the Monte-Carlo Masters. Medvedev had a brutal…
Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras may be in the American League now, but…
The Arizona Diamondbacks fell victim to the injury bug last season, resulting in an 80-82…
Jordan Spieth will be rocking some new shoes as he walks onto Augusta National this…