Update: Ashton Cole Sensing was taken into custody Thursday, December 14, 2024 in Putnam County, Tennessee.
Original story:
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man they say has been “on the run” since the death of a 2-year-old child he was babysitting. According to a press release, 22-year-old Ashton Cole Sensing admitted about getting upset with the child on numerous occasions throughout the day which led to him throwing the child into a wall and hitting the child making him become unresponsive. The little boy suffered Major Traumatic Brain Injury. The injuries were also classified as non-accidental blunt trauma. The little boy died on December 5, 2023. On December 7, 2023, Detective Sergeant Haworth obtained a First-Degree Murder warrant as well as an Aggravated Child Abuse warrant, which are currently outstanding. Sensing is described as 5’11”, weighs 220 pounds and has brown eyes and brown hair. He may also have a beard. If you have any information on Sensing’s whereabouts, please to call the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office at 931-646-1411 or Cheatham County Dispatch at 615-792-2098.
PCSO Press Release:
WANTED: ASHTON COLE SENSING FOR CHILD’S DEATH PUTNAM COUNTY, TN –
On December 2, 2023, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Responded to a call on J D Randolph Road in Putnam County regarding a 2-year-old child, Ventura Mora-Francisco, being found unresponsive. Soon after Deputies arrived the 2-year-old child was transported to Cookeville Regional Medical Center (CRMC) who was later transported to Vanderbilt Medical Children’s Hospital for a Major Traumatic Brain Injury. Detective Sergeant Haworth, in charge of the death investigation, interviewed Sara Mora, mother, and Ashton Cole Sensing, live in boyfriend of mother, who was babysitting the child and 3 other children at the time the injury occurred.
During the interview Sensing stated that the child had fallen into the small air vent on the floor and then fell again causing the child to go unresponsive while he was sleeping on the couch in the living room area. Upon farther investigation Sensing admitted to Detective Sergeant Haworth about getting upset with the child on numerous occasions throughout the day which led to him throwing the child into a wall and hitting the child making him become unresponsive.
Later that day, Detective Sergeant Haworth received word from the Vanderbilt Medical Children’s Hospital Staff that the child had suffered a Major Traumatic Brain Injury, and his injuries were inoperable and nonsurvivable. The injuries were also classified as non-accidental blunt trauma.
Three days later on December 5, 2023, the 2-year-old Ventura Mora-Francisco succumbed to his injuries and pronounced deceased at Vanderbilt Medical Children’s Hospital from his injuries.
On December 7, 2023, Detective Sergeant Haworth obtained a First-Degree Murder warrant as well as an Aggravated Child Abuse warrant, which are currently outstanding.
Sensing has been “on the run” since December 6, 2023, and has been avoiding Law Enforcement since that time.
Sheriff Farris stated, “This is a very sad and unfortunate outcome that resulted in the brutal death of an innocent child. There is no more important resource than the future of our children.”