Joseph Patterson, Convicted Of Murdering Adrian Peterson’s Two-Year-Old Son Tyresse Ruffin, Sentenced To Life In Prison

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.”