A 1-year-old girl in the Bronx died Friday after being hospitalized with catastrophic head injuries that prosecutors allege were inflicted by her mother's boyfriend, law enforcement officials said. The New York Police Department and the Bronx district attorney's office have classified the child's death as a homicide.
According to a criminal complaint, the child, identified as Imani Mitchell, was in the care of the mother's boyfriend the evening of Aug. 28 when he allegedly struck her twice on the side of the head. She was rushed to Harlem Hospital in critical condition and underwent surgery after doctors found extensive subdural hemorrhaging on the right side of her brain, swelling and elevated intracranial pressure that caused brain herniation. Surgeons removed a portion of her skull in an effort to relieve the pressure, and she was placed on a ventilator but was later pronounced dead.
The alleged assault occurred about 9:30 p.m. inside an apartment on Union Avenue near East 152nd Street in the Woodstock neighborhood after the mother left the child in the man's care, the complaint says. Prosecutors identified the man as Jerome Thomas, who authorities say was watching the child that night and allegedly struck her with a “heavy hand.”
A suspect was arrested Aug. 29 and charged initially with felony assault, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child, according to court documents. The defendant has been ordered held without bail on Rikers Island, and prosecutors said charges could be upgraded following a grand jury review. A next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 18, the district attorney's office said.
Neighbors said the family had recently moved into the building and described frequent, loud arguments coming from the apartment. One neighbor, Nicole LaCroix, said she had spoken with the mother and sometimes held the baby, describing the child as active and playful. LaCroix said she and others in the building had heard the couple fight regularly since they moved in.
Authorities said the investigation is ongoing as prosecutors review evidence and determine whether to pursue upgraded charges in light of the child's death. Legal proceedings remain pending.