Howard County Police: 3-year-old’s Mother Not Cooperating with Homicide Investigation
Her child died in April of asphyxiation, police said.
Howard County Police are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in what police said is the asphyxiation death of a 3-year-old from Columbia.
In a press release Monday, police said three other people were in the home at the 9600 block of Basket Ring Road in Columbia the day Elijah Lajeuness was found unresponsive and not breathing--his mother, her boyfriend and an 8-year-old sibling.
Police said the mother and the boyfriend have not cooperated in the investigation. No charges have been filed.
Police also said they found no signs of forced entry.
The child’s death was officially ruled a homicide last week by the medical examiner’s office.
The child’s mother called police April 13 at about 4 a.m. and said the child wasn’t breathing, according to the release. Lajeuness was taken to Howard County Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Detectives have conducted interviews and collected evidence in the event that the case involved foul play, according to the press release.
A former babysitter of the child told ABC News Channel 2 last week that the a male relative of the child “was very abusive with him, and they didn't have a very good relationship.”
The woman did not give her name.
Tiff Starz
5:26 pm on Monday, August 1, 2011
I am sick of tired women bringing children into this world when they clearly don't want them. This woman needs to stop playing games and speak the truth!!!! I hope that she is severly punished, and that she never regains custody of her 8yo little girl!!!! R.I.P. Elijah, you are greatly missed!
Faith Sentz
9:44 pm on Monday, August 1, 2011
There were several attempts to have this child removed from the home, all without success. CPS failed him, and the mother fought to keep the abuser in his life. She was in the home when her son was killed, likely knows exactly what happened, and isn't cooperating with authorities? Her actions speak volumes as far as I'm concerned!
Justice Deserved
10:28 pm on Monday, August 1, 2011
It is sad that a child has no voice and authorities failed to address his cry for help. The system has failed us yet again.
Elijah's Voice
10:46 am on Tuesday, August 2, 2011
I worst part about this case is that Social Services were already involved with this family. The father was very loving however I can't say the same about his mother or her boyfriend. Elijah and his older sibling didn't deserve the life that they were put through. I just hope the the other child is in a safe place and not with the mother or her boyfriend. RIP Little Man, justice will be done.
Cedric Cedy Ced Lyons
4:17 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
JOAQUINIA NEVER ABUSED THOSE KIDS. SHE LOVE THOSE KIDS MORE THAN ANYBODY COULD EVER. YA'LL SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YA'LL SELF TALKING ABOUT SOMEBODY YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW LIKE THAT. I CANT WAIT TILL SHE GET FREE AND LEAVE YA'LL AND YA'LL DRAMA BEHIND. THEY HAVE NO EVIDENCE AND THEY KNEW THAT, THAT'S WHY THEY PUT HER ON A BOGUS CHARGE. THE WHOLE CASE IS BOGUS AND FULL OF HOLES. LET THAT BABY REST IN PEACE.