Mom Who Raised More Than $4K For 10-Month-Old Son's Funeral Now Admits To Smothering Him To Death, Authorities Say

Months after a Florida mother raised more than $4,000 for her son’s funeral expenses after his tragic death, she has allegedly confessed to killing him.

Victoria Jackson, 24, of Clearwater was arrested on a first-degree murder charge Friday after she admitted to killing her 10-month-old son Malachi Jackson back in May, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by Oxygen.com.

The mother had called 911 to report that she found her son unresponsive in his crib on May 24. Malachi was transferred to a nearby hospital where lifesaving measures were performed but it was too late. He was pronounced dead the same day.

Jackson set up a GoFundMe page for her son’s funeral and raised more than $4,000, according to WFTS in Tampa Bay. 

"I want to give my son the best memorial service I can. He died last Friday night," the description to the fundraiser stated. "I've never been so heart broken in my life. Please help me take care of my baby one last time."

Victoria Jackson Photo: Clearwater Police Department

Detectives with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said they learned on Oct. 30 that Jackson had allegedly confessed to a friend that she “intentionally asphyxiated” her son, according to the affidavit. Investigators then orchestrated a “controlled telephone call” to the mother in which she allegedly made "incriminating statements involving her role in the death of Malachi.”

After she was arrested Friday, investigators say she admitted to smothering him with a pillow.

Jackson’s GoFundMe fundraising page was taken down on Saturday. GoFundMe will issue refunds to those who donated, WFTS report.

“Tragedy is a time where you need to be the most compassionate and loving and kind and she totally just took advantage of that," Marah Gonzales, who went to high school with Jackson and donated to the fundraiser, told WFTS.