Joseph Robert Patterson, the man accused of killing the 2-year-old son of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, has been indicted by a Lincoln County grand jury on second-degree murder and manslaughter charges.
This week Patterson will be scheduled for an arraignment according to Lincoln County state’s attorney Tom Wollman.
Peterson’s son, Tyrese Robert Ruffin, was allegedly assaulted by Patterson, the boyfriend of Tyrese’s mother, in a Sioux Falls, SD apartment. The boy later died after suffering from severe head injuries.
If Patterson is convicted, he will face a mandatory life sentence. Other charges have also been filed against Patterson including first-degree manslaughter, aggravated battery of an infant and abuse or cruelty to a minor.
Peterson only recently found out Tyrese was his son. When he found out his son was hospitalized, he rushed to Sioux Falls and met his son for the first time while he was on life support. The football star attended the toddler’s funeral last Thursday.
