Burton convicted of killing infant

Ontario Daily Bulletin

RANCHO CUCAMONGA -

A Montclair man was convicted Tuesday of fatally assaulting his girlfriend’s 3-month-old foster daughter. Jurors deliberated about five hours before announcing their decision in the trial of 29-year-old John Burton. 

Burton will be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison when he returns Oct. 5 to West Valley Superior Court.

“I’m glad the jury was able to see the facts,” Deputy District Attorney Jason Anderson said.

Authorities say Burton fatally beat Tiffany Eilders on Nov. 30 while he babysat her for about an hour at his home on Monte Vista Avenue.

She was rushed to the hospital after he called 9-1-1 to report that she was struggling to breathe.

Doctors later determined that she had a fractured skull, broken ribs and internal and external bruises.

She died several days later from a brain injury related to the skull fracture.

Most of the broken ribs appeared to be old injuries, but the skull fracture seemed fresh, leading doctors to conclude that it must have happened while Tiffany was in Burton’s care.

Others who had been around the child reported that she seemed healthy before she was left with Burton that morning.

Burton testified during his trial that he deeply loved Tiffany and did not harm her.

His lawyer claimed all the injuries occurred either before Tiffany was left alone with Burton or while Burton or paramedics handled her during rescue attempts. The defense attorney claimed Burton was being blamed for the abuse because he was the last one who watched the baby.

Prosecutors argued that Burton harbored ill will toward Tiffany because social workers had forbidden him from living in the home with his girlfriend and the baby, leaving him with nowhere to go.

Staff writer Rod Leveque can be reached by e-mail at r_leveque@dailybulletin.com, or by phone at (909) 483-9325.