MERCED, Calif. (KFSN) -- For the last three years, Dhante Jackson has been facing murder and child abuse charges for the death of 8-year-old Sophia Mason, along with the girl's mother, Samantha Johnson.

On Monday, Jackson walked free after the district attorney dropped the murder and child abuse charges against him.

EXCLUSIVE: Accused murderer Dhante Jackson speaks after charges are dropped

"The people no longer believe that you can prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt is that correct?" Judge Steven Slocum asked the Merced DA, Nicole Silveira.

"Yes," she said.

Jackson and Johnson had been living together when Sophia was reported missing in February of 2022.

In mid-March that year, Sophia's decomposed body was found in a bathtub at his Merced home.

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