Teen Charged in Tragic Assault and Death of 2-Year-Old Cousin in San Jose, California

In San Jose, California, a teenager is facing charges related to the sexual assault and murder of his 2-year-old cousin and foster brother, as announced by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office on Monday.

During a court session held weeks after the tragic incident, family and friends of the victim were visibly heartbroken. The young boy, known as Baby Jaxon, was discovered unresponsive and injured in his crib on Easter Sunday. He succumbed to his injuries in the hospital a few days later.

The precise cause of Jaxon’s death remains under investigation, leaving the community seeking answers and justice.

“I can’t fathom the agony this sweet little baby endured,” expressed Evangeline Dominguez-Estrada. “How can anyone hear a baby cry and continue to inflict harm, let alone take their life?”

According to police reports, Jaxon’s 17-year-old foster brother, who is also his cousin, is accused of sexually and physically abusing the toddler, resulting in multiple suspicious traumatic injuries.

“He was only two, and he did not deserve this,” Dominguez-Estrada said.

Monday morning, the suspect was formally charged with murder, as well as multiple other felonies, including child assault causing death and sexual assault.

“This was a 2-year-old child who was horribly abused and viciously murdered,” Rosen said. “And we want to make sure that the level of accountability is the right level.”

Evidence suggests that Jaxon had been repeatedly sexually and physically abused by his cousin after being placed with the family by the county in February.

Our partners at the Mercury News report the cousin’s mother also had a previous conviction of felony child endangerment in 2014 – a crime that should have disqualified her from being a foster parent.

County Spokesperson Peter Gallotta told ABC affiliate KGO in a statement the Department of Family and Children Services is conducting its own investigation while requesting that the California Department of Social Services do the same.

Gallotta added, “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.”

DA Rosen says he will investigate whether or not anyone else is responsible for Jaxon’s death, even the county he represents.

“This is the third child in the past couple of years under the care and custody of the Department of Family and Children Services who has been murdered,” Rosen said. “Change needs to come, and it needs to come fast – and it needs to happen now.”

The suspect has since turned 18, and Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen is seeking to try him as an adult.

The suspect in this case will be back in court on May 21.

At that time, the probation department will make its recommendations on whether this case should be tried in adult court.