Colon H. Jackson, 28 years old, of Ely, arrested in White Pine County but awaiting trial in the Washoe County Jail.(Left/photo credit Washoe County Jail- Right/Photo credit White Pine County Sheriff’s Office)
U.S. Attorney for Nevada Nicholas Trutanich released details from their case (with the FBI) against an Ely Shoshone Tribe man accused in the death of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter, Alyanha Bliss.
Colon Jackson, 28, was arrested last week Friday in White Pine County but currently awaiting trial in the Washoe County Jail. An enrolled member of the Ely Shoshone Tribe was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with the murder of a three-year-old girl.
According to the indictment, Alyanha Bliss was dropped off at daycare and was later picked up by her mother, to be taken care of by Jackson while she was at work.
The indictment says Jackson later called Alyanha’s mother to tell her the child was unconscious.
On January 9, 2019 the White Pine County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a three year old child that had been brought into the Emergency Room at the William Bee Riree Hospital that was unresponsive. The child was identified as Alyanha Bliss of Ely. Alyanha Bliss was flown to the Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City Utah, where she later died.
“A medical examiner determined the girl died from blunt force trauma to the head and also suffered injuries to her spine, genitalia and buttocks” said Nicholas Trutanich, during a press conference in a federal building in Las Vegas. Trutanich added that Jackson had a history of child abuse against the toddler.
State records show that the Division of Child and Family Services, which investigates child abuse allegations, had three prior contacts with Alyanha’s immediate family: two in January 2018 and a third in May that year.
In the first two instances, investigators deemed contact as an “information only report.” The third was deemed as a “differential response,” according to a child death disclosure form. Further information on those contacts wasn’t available, but the agency said it was collaborating with the FBI.
The Sheriff’s Office along with Ely Tribal Police contacted the F.B.I. due to the suspicious circumstances that surrounded the child’s death. It was determined that the child had sustained injuries related to her death that had occurred on the Ely Shoshone Indian Reservation, Indian Country of the United States, making the F.B.I. responsible for the investigation. The Sheriff’s Office worked in conjunction with the F.B.I. providing them assistance with the investigation. During the investigation, the Sheriff’s Office determined that several crimes had been committed by the mother of the child that had taken place off the reservation.
The mother of the child was identified as Maria G. Bliss of Ely. On January 11, 2019 Maria G. Bliss was arrested by the Sheriff’s Office for child neglect and obstructing a police officer. The investigation into the death of Alyanha Bliss continued and evidence obtained led to an arrest warrant for Colon H .Jackson age 28 of Ely. Jackson was identified as the boyfriend of Maria G. Bliss and they resided together on the Ely Shoshone Indian Reservation. An arrest warrant was issued on August 22, 2019 out of the United States District Court for “Count one Murder in the First Degree”. On August 23, 2019 the Sheriff’s Office assisted the F.B.I. on serving this warrant and Colon H. Jackson was taken into custody. The investigation into this case continues and the Sheriff’s Office will continue to work closely with the F.B.I. and the United States Attorney’s Office, providing them assistance in this investigation.
Jackson is accused of abusing the girl, causing a significant head injury that resulted in her death.
Trutanich and a top FBI agent in Nevada, Ray Johnson, provided few details and declined to describe Jackson’s relationship to the girl.
Jackson pleaded not guilty in court on Monday, and he was granted a three-day continuance for his detention hearing.
U.S. Attorney for Nevada Nicholas Trutanich at a press conference last Tuesday August 27th, 2019 (photo credit Wade VanDerVort)
U.S. Attorney Nicholas Trutanich said this past Tuesday(August 27, 2019) that Colon H. Jackson is in custody pending a detention hearing Thursday August 29th, 2019 before United States Magistrate Judge Carla Baldwin Carry, in U.S. District Court in Reno.
Jackson is scheduled for trial on October 22, 2019. If convicted, Jackson could face a possible life sentence. (White Pine Sheriff’s Office, Associated Press, United States District Attorney’s Office, District of Nevada contributed to this report).
The charge is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Penelope Brady and Sue Fahami are prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney for Nevada Nicholas Trutanich said: “Violent crime against women and children on tribal land is a significant priority for the Department of Justice,” said United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada. “I am proud to be part of an organization that does its very best to protect vulnerable victims.”
“One of the reasons that the Las Vegas Division augmented our resources in Northern Nevada was to amplify and strengthen our existing partnerships with our local and tribal partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office. “This complex investigation underscored the success of these efforts.”
