Defense Attorney: ‘No One Believes' Mother Killed Toddler

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, 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 and unresponsive in his Columbia home. The 3-year-old was taken to , where he was pronounced dead.

In August, 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.

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: