Parents face murder charges; father previously arrested, convicted

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The father charged in his 2-year-old son’s death alongside the boy’s mother previously faced a domestic violence charge involving the then-pregnant woman, documents said.

Police suspect Jacoby Robinson Jr. died Thursday, June 6, before his mother, Diaja Smith, 23, allegedly put his body in the dumpster near Lewis Avenue and 15th Street, documents said.

Police arrested Smith on a charge of open murder late Friday. She also faces a charge of child abuse resulting in substantial bodily harm.

Jacoby’s father, Jacoby Robinson Sr., 24, initially faced child abuse charges however, his charges were upgraded Monday to include open murder.

Robinson Sr. pleaded no contest to domestic battery last year, records said. Because it was his first offense, a judge required him to attend domestic violence counseling and pay a fine.

On April 6, 2023, a person called police saying a man, later identified as Robinson, was hitting a pregnant woman, documents said. The woman was identified as Smith. According to the witness, Robinson was yelling at Smith and pushed her to the ground, which caused her pants to rip, documents said.

While taking Robinson into custody, Smith allegedly tried to “interfere” with Robinson’s arrest, police said.

Records show Robinson failed to show up for a court date last December, leading the judge to issue a warrant for his arrest. Police arrested him on that warrant Thursday.

Smith lost custody of her children two years ago, police said. She received custody again in May. Smith told police she had not seen Robinson Sr. in more than a year and a half. In reality, Robinson told police he was homeless, but Smith allowed him access to her apartment.

Police said Jacoby’s body showed “significant signs of physical injury to [his] head, torso and buttocks,” documents said. His cause and manner of death remained pending Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Clark County coroner’s office said.

Another child, Jacoby’s twin, also had severe injuries, including a brain bleed. Police said that the child was listed in critical condition at the time of the parents’ arrest. The child’s condition on Wednesday was not known. A third child was released into CPS custody.

A judge ordered both Robinson and Smith to be held without bail. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for July.