A four-month-old baby girl died after allegedly being thrown to the floor at a home daycare in Claremont, California, on June 29. Police responded to a medical emergency at the residence around 11:30 a.m. and determined an infant had been harmed by a juvenile.
Officers transported the infant to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, and she was subsequently transferred to Children's Hospital of Orange County due to the severity of her injuries. She later died. Authorities arrested a 17-year-old boy at the scene and booked him into juvenile hall on suspicion of murder. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has charged him with murder. The teenager remains in custody, and his identity has not been released.
The infant's parents, Jasmyne Cohn and Anthony Owens, told KTLA that they believe daycare staff left their daughter, Troy May Elaine Cohn, unsupervised with the 17-year-old, creating a dangerous environment. Cohn stated that her child had bruises all over her body and a fractured head.
It is unclear why the 17-year-old was present at the daycare, which is reportedly for children aged eight and younger. The parents believe the teenager may have been attending the facility under the owner's supervision, though authorities have not confirmed this. Cohn emphasized that the teenager should not have been allowed around infants.
The couple stated their belief that the daycare should be shut down. Police have not disclosed whether the daycare or its owner is under investigation, nor have they publicly commented on the level of supervision at the time of the incident.
A GoFundMe has been created to assist Troy's family with funeral and medical expenses, as well as legal costs.