California Couple Charged with Felony Child Neglect in Daughter's Asthma Death
An eight-year-old girl died from an asthma attack in a home described as infested with cockroaches, mold, and pet feces, leading to felony charges against her parents.
A California couple has been charged with felony child neglect following the death of their eight-year-old daughter, Aurora Williams, who succumbed to an asthma attack in a home characterized by severe unsanitary conditions. Gabrielle Hanson, 32, and Jacob Randolph, 39, were arrested after the Santa Clara County District Attorney's office stated the child's asthma attack went unaddressed for over eight hours.
San Jose Police responded to a medical emergency at the family's Lancelot Lane residence on May 13, 2026. Responding officers discovered a home strewn with garbage and pet feces, and infested with cockroaches. The child's inhaler was reportedly broken, and her respiratory mask contained cockroaches, according to the District Attorney's office.
"This little asthmatic girl was living in a home with feces…. Aurora was kept out of school and teachers said she was less than 1% body weight and had roaches on her," District Attorney Jeff Rosen stated in a news release. The SCCDA reported that the children had been living in these dangerous and unsanitary conditions since 2019.
Aurora Williams was pronounced dead four days after the incident. Her cause of death was determined by the SCCDA to be lack of oxygen to the brain due to severe asthma, compounded by acute lung injury resulting from a human rhinovirus/enterovirus infection. The death has been categorized as a homicide.
This is not the first time the child's health issues have been brought to light. In February 2025, Aurora was hospitalized for asthma and breathing difficulties. During that hospital visit, staff observed insects falling from her shoe and cockroaches on her person. She reportedly told staff, "Oh yeah, bugs just crawl on me." At that time, she was also reported to smell of cat urine, appear severely underweight and pale, and stated she was hungry. "When she was finally brought to a hospital, staff found that she was below 1% of her expected body weight and had roaches on her emaciated body," Rosen stated.
Following Aurora's death, six other children ranging in age from two months to 17 years old were taken into custody by the Department of Family and Children Services.
In addition to the neglect charges, Gabrielle Hanson's brother, Jonathan Hanson, 44, was charged with two counts of child molestation and one count of child pornography possession. Jonathan Hanson had been living with the family and allegedly sexually abusing Gabrielle's stepdaughter. The SCCDA stated that Gabrielle Hanson was aware of the abuse and did not intervene.
Both Gabrielle Hanson and Jacob Randolph have been released but are subject to protective orders that prohibit them from having any contact with their children or any other minors. Hanson, Randolph, and Jonathan Hanson are scheduled to appear in court on November 20 for conviction and sentencing proceedings.