A 32-year-old Florida man is in custody following the death of a 3-year-old girl in Marion County. Jeroen Jarrell Coombs faces charges of aggravated child abuse after authorities say he caused the injuries that led to the death of Paisley Brown. The incident occurred on Thursday at a residence in the 16500 block of NE 44th Avenue, where Coombs was the only adult present at the time.
Emergency responders arrived at the home around noon after receiving reports of an unresponsive child. Paisley was rushed to a nearby hospital, but medical staff were unable to save her.
According to investigators from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, there was a significant delay in seeking professional medical help. Coombs reportedly contacted the child’s mother just before 11:00 a.m. to report the girl was unresponsive, yet 911 was not called for another 40 minutes.
During the investigation, deputies noted visible bruising and ligature marks on the child’s wrists and ankles. While Coombs initially claimed the girl had simply woken up groggy, officials say he later admitted to binding her limbs with a robe tie and painter’s tape the night before to prevent her from reaching into her diaper.
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He further detailed dropping the child while she was still bound and striking her, later telling detectives he did not call for help because he was scared.
The child’s great-aunt, Tabitha Harless, arrived at the scene and attempted CPR before paramedics arrived. She described a scene of confusion, noting that other children in the home were the ones who first pointed to Coombs as the person responsible.
Harless expressed frustration with the child welfare system, suggesting that the family had been struggling and that the children had been overlooked by social services.
Coombs is currently being held at the Marion County Jail without bond. Detectives are waiting for the final results of an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, which may lead to additional charges.
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