SAN JUAN COUNTY, N.M. — Authorities have charged a man after the body of his 11-month-old son was discovered partially buried near a ditch in San Juan County.

The infant, known as JJ, was located a day after he was reported missing in February. Officials say evidence suggests the child could have been buried while still alive.

San Juan County Sheriff’s deputies took 29-year-old John Hannon into custody, charging him with intentional child abuse resulting in death.

Report of a missing child

The Sheriff’s Office says the child’s mother, Krystal Phillips, asked deputies to perform a welfare check after she had not seen JJ for about 24 hours. Phillips told officers she last saw the baby the day before when Hannon had taken JJ and the couple’s 4-year-old daughter to a nearby store.

She said Hannon returned from the errand without JJ, telling her his own mother had picked up the infant.

Deputies later went to an RV where Hannon was staying to check on the family and detained him on unrelated matters. When Hannon would not exit, officers forced entry and discovered him concealed beneath a blanket on a bed.

During questioning

While being interviewed, deputies asked Hannon whether he had harmed JJ.

“No, sir. I would never hurt JJ,” Hannon told investigators, according to reports.

As the interview progressed, deputies say Hannon avoided giving a clear account of what happened to the infant.

“Why is JJ missing? Is he hurt?” an officer asked.

“Yes, he’s hurt bad,” Hannon answered.

Officers later showed Hannon a photograph of JJ and pressed for more details.

“Did you hit him?” an officer asked.

“No, not technically,” Hannon replied.

“Did he fall? Did you throw him?” the officer followed up.

“Neither one of those,” Hannon said.

An autopsy revealed JJ sustained a skull fracture and had dirt present in his airway. Court documents note that a physician from the Office of the Medical Investigator believes the injuries are consistent with the possibility the child was buried alive.

“You told me he was dead when you left and that’s why you left him, because you knew he was dead,” an officer told Hannon.

“Yeah, yeah,” Hannon responded.

Court filings indicate questions about Hannon’s competency have arisen. He is scheduled to appear in court next week for a hearing.