John Hannon, a 43-year-old father from New Mexico has been charged with intentional child abuse resulting in the death of his 11-month-old baby after the child’s remains were found next to a state road. Hannon had previously told the baby’s mother that he had left him in the care of his own mother who lives in Colorado.
Hannon reportedly left his home with his four-year-old and the baby, John Teigue “JJ”, on February 7th to walk to the Dollar General. When he returned JJ was no longer with him. The mother, Krystal Phillips was naturally concerned that the father had done something to the child but Hannon claimed that he had left the 11-month-old with his own mother. However, this was not the case and the father refused to call his mother to confirm his story and put Phillips’ concerns to rest.
The next day she called the police, telling them she “feared something bad had happened to her son.” The day her son went missing police had been contacted by an individual who caught a suspicious individual pushing a stroller in a remote area, officers investigated the area but found nothing. Hannon was soon identified as the man pushing the stroller after Phillips contacted the authorities.
What happened to baby JJ and what did John Hannon allegedly do?
When police arrived to question Hannon he allegedly refused to leave his home leaving officers no choice but to force their way in. During questioning, he gave conflicting accounts of where the baby was. When asked if he had hurt JJ he reportedly responded that he was “hurt bad.” He was asked if he had hit the child to which he responded “not technically,” before claiming he “knew [JJ] was dead,” as per The U.S. Sun.
Unfortunately the remains of JJ were found on February 9, partially buried off the side of the New Mexico 516. The child’s skull was fractured and there was dirt found in the airways. The death was ruled a homicide but the worst part is that the examiner believes that JJ had been buried alive by his father.
Hannon allegedly told police that he had “made a mistake” and that he did love his children “at one point in time” but that things had “changed.” Hannon had previously been charged with domestic abuse in September 2024 after punching Phillips’ 15-year-old son in the eye. He also pled guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest and in another incident one of Phillips’ kids claimed Hannon slammed his mom’s head into the crib.
In a statement, Sheriff Ferrari claimed that there was “no greater evil than individuals who hurt and kill children,” and that they were doing “everything in our power to bring justice to this precious child.”
Published: Mar 31, 2026 02:42 pm