Adrian Griffin, who was hired as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) last month, is mourning the loss of his 2-year-old grandson, Jayce D. Griffin. The little boy was found unresponsive by his father – Alan Griffin, 23 – on July 22 and was taken to the Carle Foundation Hospital Emergency Department.
Jayce was pronounced dead shortly after. A statement by Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup confirmed that his death is being attributed to ‘natural causes,’ but more testing is needed as they await the final results from the autopsy. Northrup also confirmed he didn’t see any signs of trauma or foul play.
On Monday (July 24), the Milwaukee Bucks released a statement on behalf of Adrian Griffin. “My grandson Jayce was very special to me and my family and his passing is an agonizing tragedy that will be felt forever. I appreciate your respecting our family’s grief and privacy at this time,” the statement read.
In an interview with TMJ4, the little boy’s mother – Jasmine Riggs – explained that she dropped Jayce off at daycare on July 20 and he was expected to spend the next three days with his father. On the morning of July 22, she received a phone call from Adrian Griffin confirming that her son was found unresponsive.
While Jayce was completely healthy on July 20 when she dropped him off at daycare, doctors are saying they found fluid in the little boy’s lungs. Her comments came just one day after she took to Facebook to call for an investigation into Jayce’s death and implying that the Griffin family had something to do with it.
She claimed that the family ‘didn’t even have the decency to tell me sorry my baby died while being in their care’ and that they ‘didn’t even respond when I asked how my baby was doing the day before.’ She’s praying the autopsy gives her the answers she needs, describing the pain she’s feeling as ‘unbearable.’
Riggs also took to Instagram to share her frustrations. She claimed that the Griffins ‘think money and status are gonna protect them from getting justice for my baby’ and said there is ‘no way I let my baby be with his father and I don’t get answers of how three adults let this happen.’
Adrian Griffin Jr. Testifies and Prays for Nephew at Church
On Sunday (July 23), Adrian Griffin Jr. – the son of Adrian Griffin and uncle to Jayce Griffin – was seen at the Midwest Believers Church the day after Jayce tragically passed away. Adrian Jr.’s aunt, Rhonda Clain – who leads the church with her husband – took a moment to pray and receive prayer for the little boy.
Adrian’s wife Kathy has a sister, brother-in-law who are pastors at Midwest Believers Church in Champaign @mbcchampaign. Alan’s brother AJ Griffin (Atlanta Hawks) spoke yesterday in the service but apparently didn’t address death of his nephew the day before (Pastors did briefly) pic.twitter.com/8wO62EnW27
— Amy Smith (@watchkeep) July 24, 2023
“Before we move any farther in the service, I want to ask everyone to gather around my family, they’re on the front row. Many of you probably have already heard but our little buddy, Jayce, the little boy that’s always at church with me, he unexpectedly went to Heaven yesterday,” Rhonda said during the service.
Adrian Jr. (who goes by AJ) has followed in his father’s footsteps and is currently playing in the NBA. He was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 15 overall pick last year and averaged 8.9 points per game as a rookie. While he didn’t mention his nephew at the Sunday Service, he did talk about mental health.
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“You know, I’m an NBA player, and most of you guys know me but I’d rather have Jesus than have basketball,” he said during the service. “I was once full of depression, anxiety and fear. And I struggled with porn addiction. I struggled with mental battles in my mind where they left me restless at night and I stayed up at night, you know, just crying.”
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