Defense Attorney: ‘No One Believes' Mother Killed Toddler
Police have not identified a suspect in the April 2011 death of 3-year-old Elijah LaJeuness.
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An attorney for the mother of Elijah LaJeuness, the Columbia toddler whose April 2011 death is being investigated as a homicide, said “no one believes” she killed her son.
Howard County Deputy District Public Defender Louis Willemin’s comments came during a bail review hearing Monday on separate charges that Joaquinia LaJeuness abused Elijah in 2010.
Joaquinia LaJeuness, 28, is charged with two counts of second-degree child abuse and one count of second-degree assault, as well as contributing to acts and omission for the incidents police said occurred in 2010.
Howard County State's Attorney Colleen McGuinn said during the hearing that while investigating Elijah's death, police learned of new information on which to base the abuse charges.
McGuinn and Howard County police did not give details on that information.
Howard County Circuit Court Judge Richard Bernhardt said during the bail review hearing that “lack of evidence and lack of understanding” of the charges were a factor in his decision to reduce LaJeuness' bond from $250,000 to $25,000.
According to charging documents, Joaquinia LaJeuness is accused of abusing and assaulting Elijah between Nov. 1 and Nov. 3, 2010. She is also accused of hindering a law enforcement investigation between Nov. 9 and Dec. 30, 2010.
Howard County police said Monday that the Department of Social Services received a report on Nov. 3, 2010 that Elijah LaJeuness, then 2, had marks and bruises on his face. A doctor's review said the injuries were not accidental.
Police said there wasn't sufficient information at the time to file charges.
On April 13, Elijah was found not breathing and unresponsive in his Columbia home. The 3-year-old was taken to Howard County General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
In August, Patch published an investigation into the child’s life that showed that the year before he died, many adults, including doctors and social workers, investigated injuries to Elijah, ranging from bruises to his forehead and ears to burns on the tops of his feet.
Police said at the time the abuse allegations were part of the ongoing homicide investigation. There was no word on any charges relating directly to the boy's death.
Willemin and police have said there were two adults present at the time Elijah was found unresponsive: Joaquinia and her boyfriend at the time. Her other child was also present, according to police. That child is now in foster care.
“It is my perception that no one believes Miss LaJeuness caused the death of Elijah LaJeuness, but [they] have not been able to put together a case to charge a different person,” Willemin said during the Monday hearing. “She gave a full statement to the hospital the night of Elijah’s death. Police have sought to further interview her; we have not agreed.”
Howard County police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said she could not confirm that information since no charges have been filed in Elijah’s death.
McGuinn argued during the bail hearing that Joaquinia LaJeuness was a flight risk, noting that Howard County police arrested her Friday in Meridian, MI.
LaJeuness told Bernhardt she resides in Columbia and lives alone. She works for a local house-cleaning service, Willemin said.
Willemin said his client's presence in Michigan was “entirely coincidental” and she was there with her boyfriend to pick up a car. The boyfriend was said to be a different man than the one who was present when Elijah was found unresponsive.
Joaquinia LaJeuness’s next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 19 at 8:30 a.m., where there will be a scheduling conference for future hearings.
See past coverage of the Elijah LaJeuness case on Patch:
Documents Show Burns, Bruises, Neglect Complaints in Year Before Columbia Toddler’s Death
Howard County Police: 3-year-old’s Mother Not Cooperating with Homicide Investigation
Slain Toddler’s Grandmother: ‘It Could Have Been Prevented
Friends, Family Remember Slain Child, Ask for Answers (VIDEO)
Cedric Cedy Ced Lyons
12:41 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
SORRY YOU HAVE TO GO THRU THIS JOAQUINIA, WE WILL GET YOU HOME SOON ENOUGH.
Justice4Elijah
4:53 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Look at her… She looks cold and heartless! I don’t see the face of a woman that is grieving the loss of her child. It almost looks like she is smirking in the picture! I know that it is inevitable, but I really hope that no one bails that woman out!
DT
1:54 pm on Wednesday, January 11, 2012
What is the face of a grieving mother who's been harassed by police for 9 months and is now having a mug shot taken on a bogus charge supposed to look like? I just wonder how you sociopaths are going to cope when she's found not guilty.
Elijah's Voice
12:10 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012
So I guess the doctors and police and the day care and all this other people who filed complaints with social service were all out to get this women that's done nothing wrong, RIGHT? The fact says all that needs to be told.
Cedric Cedy Ced Lyons
3:02 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012
There are no facts that say the mother abused her kids or that she allowed anyone to abuse her kids. I know both parents but I know the mother more. I know the mother take care her kids and the never went with out. The reports are bogus based on knowing how the mother care for her kids and that of the dad was taking care of his kids like I believe he was, Elijah would never be in a that kind of situations. All I know is she didnt abuse her kids and she's not gonna let no dude hurt her kids. Thats not her. From someone who knows her.
Cedric Cedy Ced Lyons
3:03 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012
There are no facts that say the mother abused her kids or that she allowed anyone to abuse her kids. I know both parents but I know the mother more. I know the mother take care her kids and they never went with out. The reports are bogus based on knowing how the mother care for her kids and that of the dad was taking care of his kids like I believe he was, Elijah would never be in a that kind of situations. All I know is she didnt abuse her kids and she's not gonna let no dude hurt her kids. Thats not her. From someone who knows her.
Elijah's Voice
5:38 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012
Everyone is entitled to have their own opinions
Incog Neato
10:48 am on Friday, January 13, 2012
Ok Cedric I know you know the family personally, but if neither person in the home did it in your opinion, then who did? someone is obviously responsible for all of this so was it a ghost? we know a 3 year old didnt do this to himself. All Im saying here is people arent always what they seem . I just want justice for this little angel who should be here right now.
Peach Richard
12:51 pm on Sunday, April 15, 2012
I miss my little girl whom i Haven't Seen in 6 yrs. It's Hard to Understand why people hurt Their own kids. Juaquinia was my x-wife, I never thought she would go that far . The last days of being with my daughter was one of the saddest times just to know that I was not going to see her or be with her no more. All I heard was: if I try contact my daughter, I would not get to see her at all. Ad she would do her best to keep her away from me.
It was scary Because I reported a similar complaint about my daughter so I did call CPS. But they said they didn't have enough evidence. And now Because of this incident, my daughter is on Foster care. I always feared for her life, but I never thought it would get this bad.
Sympathies to the dad. I. A single dad with a 3year old. And i cannot fathom the thought of losing my boy.
Please contact me if you know any updated or any news about my daughter, Tatiana Alvarez.: Alvarez.Jeremiah.Daniel@Gmail.com
Nicki Lyons
6:24 pm on Sunday, April 15, 2012
Mr. Alvarez, I advise you not to do too much on the internet especially if you don't want everyone to know the real reason the courts wont let you see your daughter. If anything Kina had a very poor choice of mates. But to even go there and say that Kina even thought of putting hands on her children is just so disrespecful and wrong and whoever suggest such things have no clue of what they talking about. Kina love those kids with a passion. And my sympathy still goes out to everyone who was hurt during this sad tragedy including Kina.