‘I Was the Monster Who Killed Him’: Florida Father Gets 30 Years for Running Over and Killing 8-Month-Old Son By Dave Quinn

A Florida father who admitted to running over and killing his 8-month-old son after an argument with the child’s mother was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Justin Golden, 21, addressed the court ahead of sentencing, telling the judge, “I was the monster who killed him,” according to multiple outlets, including WTLV-TV First Coast News, WKRC and Law & Crime.

Golden learned his fate in Duval County court on Friday, Dec. 19, after pleading guilty in September to vehicular homicide and aggravated manslaughter in the death of his infant son, Pablo Kye Golden.

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The fatal incident occurred on the morning of Jan. 25, 2025, while Golden and the child’s mother were driving with Pablo in the car. According to an arrest affidavit cited by Law & Crime and WKRC, the couple began arguing while stopped at an intersection in Jacksonville, a dispute that reportedly centered on “baby wipes and money.”

Golden removed the child from the vehicle, placed him on the roadway, then returned to the driver’s seat and drove forward, running over the infant, the outlets reported, citing police.

“In a span of three to four seconds, Pablo Golden went from being safely in the car to being killed and run over by his father,” prosecutor John Kalinowski said in court, WTLV-TV reported.

Several witnesses described seeing the entire incident play out, officials said. One woman, Law & Crime reported, saw Golden place what she thought was “a bag of trash” on the ground. It was only after Golden drove over it and “she saw it move” that she realized it was a child.

Paramedics rushed Pablo to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead, WKRC reported. Golden fled the scene but was later located and arrested.

Before sentencing on Friday, Golden read a prepared statement aloud to the court.

“I failed as his protector, as his father,” he said, according to WTLV-TV and WKRC, adding that while he did not intend to kill his son, “I know that is not enough.” He also said he deserved punishment and apologized to his family and those affected by the child’s death.

Golden’s father and grandfather asked the court for leniency, describing him as nonviolent and calling the incident a tragic mistake, WTLV-TV reported. His defense attorney argued the act was impulsive and pointed to Golden’s lack of a prior criminal record.

However, Judge London Kite rejected the defense’s arguments. “You were entrusted with him, and you violated that trust,” Kite said, WTLV-TV reported.

“I have seen people exercise more care, caution and concern for a squirrel that darts into the roadway, a lizard that is on the hood of their car,” the judge added, Law & Crime reported.

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Kite sentenced Golden to 30 years in Florida State Prison and credited him with 328 days of time served, per WTLV-TV and WKRC.

Pablo’s mother was not present in court for the sentencing, WKRC reported.

Family members have started a GoFundMe to raise money for Pablo’s funeral. As of Monday, Dec. 22, $6,153 of a $10,000 goal has been gathered.

“Our hearts are so heavy and we are very saddened that our precious little ‘Big Man’ had to leave us so soon… ,” Pablo’s grandmother, Evelyn, wrote. “If you all would please keep our family in your prayers because Lord knows that we need Him right now.”