Marquavious Dovontae Ware, 23, will spend up to 75 months in state prison for killing his 4-year-old son, Jahorden Clay, whose body showed cigarette burns, broken ribs, and severe malnutrition at the time of his death in May 2023.

Multnomah County Circuit Judge Melvin Oden-Orr sentenced Ware on Monday, July 20, at a hearing where the boy's maternal aunt fought back tears describing her sister Jonicia Clay's devotion to Jahorden. Deputy District Attorney Rachna Hajari told the judge the child had been "tragically murdered" and urged the full recommended sentence. The conviction itself is for second-degree manslaughter, after a plea deal dropped earlier murder and assault charges.

Oden-Orr imposed 75 months for manslaughter and 45 months for custodial interference, to run concurrently. Ware will receive credit for more than three years already served. The judge also ordered nearly $5,000 in restitution.

Ware pleaded guilty in June under the deal that reduced the charges.

May 3, 2023

Portland police and paramedics responded to an apartment in Northeast Portland's Woodlawn neighborhood on May 3, 2023, according to court records. They found blood in Jahorden's lungs and rushed him to Legacy Emanuel Health Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators interviewed a relative, Martayvious Ware, who told police he had heard yelling and later found Marquavious Ware in a bathtub with Jahorden, washing blood from the child's mouth, court records show. Officers found blood on a bed, floor, and pillow upstairs, and vomit in the bathroom.

Doctors found bruises on Jahorden's face, neck, chest, legs, and arms, with injuries ranging from hours old to less than 30 days old. Burns on his back were consistent with cigarette burns. During the autopsy, medical examiners found lacerations to the boy's lungs, liver, and pancreas, recently broken ribs, and internal bleeding. The cause of death: blunt force trauma and a collapsed heart, compounded by severe malnutrition and dehydration.

DHS closed the case two weeks before Jahorden died

The sentencing closes the criminal case, but questions remain about whether Oregon's child welfare system failed Jahorden. Court records and reporting by The Oregonian show that on April 19, 2023, Jonicia Clay submitted FaceTime screenshots to the Oregon Department of Human Services showing a bruise on Jahorden's forehead. She reported the boy had been staying with Ware for weeks beyond a scheduled two-day visit.

DHS closed the case. Jahorden died two weeks later.

In an internal review after the boy's death, DHS found it had failed to adequately investigate prior reports of abuse, according to The Oregonian. A $17 million lawsuit filed by Jahorden's estate against DHS and the City of Portland remains ongoing, alleging the agency failed to protect the boy despite repeated abuse reports.

No trial date for the civil case has been announced.