DA charges San Jose teen with murder, sex assault of 'Baby Jaxon'
'Baby Jaxon' case: San Jose teen charged in toddler's death
The Santa Clara County District Attorney on Monday announced charges against a then-17-year-old for the death and sexual assault of a 2-year-old boy nicknamed "Baby Jaxon."
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The Santa Clara County District Attorney on Monday announced charges against a then-17-year-old for the death and sexual assault of a 2-year-old boy nicknamed "Baby Jaxon."
Assault with ‘hair tie’
What we know:
Speaking at a news conference, Jeff Rosen said the teen, now 18, was charged with murder, sexual assault and felony assault with a hair tie, which was found around the toddler's neck on Easter Sunday.
The Mercury News first reported that the teen is the toddler's cousin.
"This is a terrible and horrific case," Rosen said, adding that his office is moving to try the teen in adult court. Because the case is now in juvenile court, Rosen could not say much more about the suspect.
Unresponsive in crib
Dig deeper:
San Jose police found the child unresponsive in his crib on April 5 in a home on the 300 block of Otono Court. Medical staff found the toddler had "several suspicious traumatic injuries" and the toddler was placed on life support, police said.
Three days later, police arrested the 17-year-old.
The toddler died on April 9.
The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner has yet to release a cause of death.
Family services agency questioned
The backstory:
During the investigation, detectives learned the toddler had been placed with a foster caregiver who had a "concerning criminal history," police said.
Investigators also noted the caregiver "was less than cooperative and not forthcoming during initial interviews," police said. She was arrested and booked, but later released pending further investigation.
The Mercury News reported Santa Clara County’s Department of Family and Children’s Services had placed "Baby Jaxon" with the teenager’s 40-year-old mother about six weeks before Jaxon was found unresponsive in the crib.
Friends of Jaxon's mom said the woman had died due to poor health.
"I knew his mom," one woman said. "At the time she had him, she started to develop a lot of her health issues."
The boy's father was unable to care for him and Jaxon was placed in foster care with a woman, whom relatives said was his aunt.
Teen charged in San Jose death of 'Baby Jaxon'
The Santa Clara County District Attorney on Monday announced charges against a then-17-year-old for the death and sexual assault of a 2-year-old boy nicknamed "Baby Jaxon."
Rosen said there a many unanswered questions about the lapses that led to the toddler's death.
"I think that we should all be asking questions of county officials at the highest level," Rosen said. "Why are horrible and tragic crimes happening to children in the care and custody of the Department of Family and Children's Services over and over?"
Like others, Rosen wondered aloud: "Could anything have been done to save baby Jaxon from being the victim of a horrible and terrible death? At this point, the answer to that is, I don't know."
A classmate of the suspect, who is now aged 18, said he didn't have many friends.
"He was a bit odd is all I know and that's all anyone else would say," said Zariah Garduno.
Rosen noted this is the third child in the last couple of years in the care of this same agency "who has been murdered," adding loudly, "Enough! Change needs to come, and it needs to come fast."
The other side:
In a statement to KTVU, county spokesperson Peter Gallotta said the county is conducting a "comprehensive investigation" of the death, and that the state Department of Social Services is also conducting an independent review.
"The death of Jaxon Juarez is deeply tragic and under active investigation by the County," Gallotta said in the statement. "The County is committed to swiftly investigating every aspect of this horrific tragedy and publicly sharing the results of these investigations when available and to the extent allowable by law."