Mother of murdered Ohio toddler in protective custody after death threats

(CBS/WKRC/AP) CINCINNATI - The mother of murdered two-year-old DeMarcus Jackson is in protective custody after receiving death threats in connection to her son's alleged death by abuse , CBS affiliate WKRC reports.

Latricia Jackson is charged with child endangering for failing to protect Demarcus from his father, Antrone Smith, who is charged with beating the boy to death. Jackson's charge carries a possible sentence of up to three years.

The two-year-old died Oct. 21 from blunt force to his abdomen, investigators say. DeMarcus had been living with a foster family, but was returned to his birth parents in August. He was dead two months later.

Prosecutors say that before he died the child suffered numerous injuries, including multiple bruises and cuts, and an untreated burn.

Twenty-two-year-old Latricia Jackson is now expecting her sixth baby, reports WKRC. The others were in foster care when they were sent back to her and father Antrone Smith. Latricia Jackson is expected to testify against Smith, who faces a possible death sentence if convicted in the boy's murder.

Jackson's family says her diary reveals Smith's control over her, reports WKRC. She wrote: "I play a role to get my kids back, find a way to leave and be happy." Relatives reportedly say Latricia has been "mentally challenged" since she was attacked by a dog at three years old. Her attorney, Norm Aubin, says she had brain surgery. "He ran her, ran the family. Her lower intellect is a fact and being abused. She followed along behind him."

The director of County Job and Family Services, the agency that returned DeMarcus to his biological parents, and county commissioner Greg Hartmann ordered an independent system-wide review of the case. 

County authorities say they are required to make reasonable efforts to reunify a child with his family after taking certain steps, including a court-approved plan involving case workers, the child's court advocate, parents and others.

"Reports on the family's progress were all positive and everyone was in agreement on reunification," the directer, Moira Weir, said in a statement. "Because of the serious nature of this incident, I feel it is best to have someone look into whether, based on the information available, the right decisions were made."