Overview
- A Worcester County grand jury returned a murder indictment in June 2026 against 35-year-old Steven Stuart for the death of Jayden Carlson.
- Stuart was arraigned in Worcester County Superior Court on June 18 and was ordered held without bail.
- He was previously convicted in 2015 of assault and battery on a child causing serious bodily injury and served a six- to eight-year state prison sentence.
- Prosecutors say Jayden suffered severe, life-altering injuries in August 2012, endured years of medical complications including seizures, and died in December 2017 as a result of those injuries.
- Stuart is scheduled to return to court on July 20 and the indictment has renewed scrutiny of long-term accountability in child-abuse cases while Jayden's family said the move brings relief.