Second trial begins for Pueblo man accused of killing foster child

Editor's note: This story contains descriptions of violence against a child that readers might find disturbing.

A Pueblo man is, for the second time, standing trial for murder in connection to the death of a foster child.

Ramondo Jones, 38, is accused of killing 15-month-old Aiden Seeley in September 2020. He previously faced trial in October, which ended in a mistrial.

Seeley had been placed in the Pueblo West home of Dacey Spinuzzi, Jones' girlfriend at the time. At the time of the child's placement, Jones had a no-bond warrant for assault, which included domestic violence, and a second no-bond warrant for criminal mischief and menacing.

A medical examination and an autopsy following the child's death determined that he died from injuries sustained from child abuse. Through an extensive investigation, sheriff’s detectives concluded the injuries occurred while Seeley was in Spinuzzi’s care.

Spinuzzi pleaded guilty on Sept. 23, 2021 to accessory to a crime resulting in the death of the child in her care, a Class 4 felony, in a plea deal with the 10th Judicial District Attorney's Office. In exchange for her plea, a child abuse charge was dismissed. Spinuzzi said in court she lied to the Pueblo Police Department to protect Jones, despite knowing he had seriously hurt the toddler.

Spinuzzi's sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 17, after the end of Jones' trial. Other foster children were removed from Spinuzzi’s care following Seeley's death and were placed in protective custody. Spinuzzi's biological child was placed in the care of relatives.

In opening statements Friday, prosecutors described the graphic injuries sustained by Seeley, which they said literally covered the toddler from head to toe.

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According to the prosecution, on the day of the child's death, Jones picked up Seeley by the ankles and dangled him upside down, screaming expletives at the child and telling him to "just shut up." The prosecution stated that was the last time Spinuzzi saw her foster child conscious. The next time she saw Seeley, he was unconscious on the ottoman with Jones sitting next to him.

Jones, according to the prosecution, allegedly claimed he had "just tossed him down in the playroom," then told Spinuzzi she had "better fix it." Prosecutors allege he then left before firefighters arrived.

Seeley was severely injured, including bleeding under his scalp, brain injuries, a fractured skull and other fractures, and many others, which the prosecution claimed were inconsistent with any accidental explanation and could only be the result of child abuse.

While Seeley was under Jones' care, prosecutors allege he sustained a series of injuries, none of which were present prior to his placement in Spinuzzi's home.

On Aug. 12, 2020, more than a month before Seeley's death, he was left in Jones' care and sustained bruising to the chin, a swollen lip, and marks around his neck. Jones explained to Spinuzzi, who was at work, that the child had fallen out of a swing at Spinuzzi's mother's house. Prosecutors said that explanation was not consistent with Seeley's injuries.

From Aug. 27 through Sept. 6, the prosecution alleged Seeley suffered several other injuries in Jones' care, including facial swelling, a mouth injury and a painful injury to the child's toe.

Two days after the toe injury, Spinuzzi told law enforcement she saw Jones squeeze the injured toe because he was angry at Seeley for making noise.

On Sept. 16, prosecutors say, Spinuzzi returned from work to find injuries to another foster child's face and groin area, which Jones allegedly attributed to the child falling from a straddled position on a fence. The prosecution claimed those injuries also were not consistent with the explanation.

Throughout these incidents, Spinuzzi initially lied to law enforcement and the Department of Human Services, coming up with stories to explain the injuries without implicating Jones. Following Seeley's death, Spinuzzi told law enforcement he had fallen from a bed after being pushed by his brother.

"We don't know exactly what happened in that basement," an assistant district attorney said in court. "The evidence will show that it was not an accident, that it was violent, and it took a substantial amount of force, but it doesn't show exactly what happened."

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An attorney representing Jones questioned the reliability of Spinuzzi's statements because she had initially lied to law enforcement.

Jones' defense said Spinnuzi had a "lack of credibility" because part of her plea agreement stipulated she was required to testify against her former boyfriend.

"I think that prosecution has rightly pointed out the numerous stories their primary witness has told," Jones' attorney said. "Story one, he fell off the bed; story two, (his brother) did it; story three, he fell down the stairs; story four, Ramondo tossed him down; story five, Ramondo went down with him and the next I saw, he was limp.

"The big question is, what will story six be? I'll be interested to find out."

The defense attorney asked the jury if there may be a reason why Spinuzzi's story might be getting progressively closer to the prosecution's ideal case, "especially if her plea agreement rests on it."

In January 2022, Pueblo County commissioners reached a $6 million settlement with Seeley's family.

The settlement, approved by the commissioners on Jan. 27, 2022, states that Pueblo County disputes Aiden's biological parents' claims against the county in relation to his death but agreed to settle out of court to avoid significantly higher litigation costs.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court. Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime.

Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter@jayreutter1.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo man accused of killing foster child faces second trial