Canton, SD (KELO AM) - A jury in Lincoln County has found Joseph Patterson guilty on all counts against him stemming from the 2013 death of Tyrese Ruffin, the biological son of Minnesota Vikings Running Back Adrian Peterson.
Those counts include 2nd degree murder and 1st degree manslaughter.
Ruffin was rushed to a hospital in October of 2013 while in Paterson's care with several injuries to his head and neck. He died a few days later.
Patterson's defense had maintained that the boy had choked on a fruit snack, and the injuries sustained were from his attempts to administer CPR.
Jurors deliberated for just over 5 hours before finding Patterson guilty. After the decision was announced, KSFY TV's Mark Roper reported that several of Patterson's family member and supporters were removed from the court room for their outbursts of anger.