Man Found Guilty of 2nd-Degree Murder in Death of Adrian Peterson's Son

Joseph Patterson was found guilty Tuesday of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and aggravated battery in the October 2013 death of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson's son.

According to Megan Raposa of the Argus Leader (h/t Associated Press, via SI.com), the 29-year-old Patterson was convicted of killing two-year-old Tyrese Robert Ruffin in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, which means he will serve a mandatory life sentence.

It was alleged that Patterson—who was the boyfriend of Ruffin's mother—had beaten Ruffin to death, although the defense claimed that the child choked on a fruit snack and that any injuries he suffered were the result of CPR.

Following the verdict, Deputy Attorney General Bob Mayer was pleased with the decision, per Raposa.

"We couldn't be more excited and thrilled for Tyrese. He finally gets the justice he deserved," Mayer said.

According to the Associated Press (h/t SI.com), Peterson found out that Ruffin was his son just two months before his death and saw him in person for the first time one day before he died.

Patterson is scheduled to be officially sentenced within the next two months.

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