A man in Florida has been arrested after he tied his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter up with a robe tie and painter’s tape before punching her to death, police confirmed.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a statement via Facebook that Jeroen Jarrell Coombs has been accused of aggravated child abuse in the death of 3-year-old girl Paisley Brown.
Deputies responded to a trailer in Ocala, Florida, around noon on Thursday, February 19, after they received a report about an unresponsive child. Paramedics also reported to the home, and they rushed the girl to the hospital, where she later died.
Deputies launched an investigation into the matter and learned that Coombs, 32, was “the one who harmed Paisley.” He was then taken into custody.
Police said that Coombs called Paisley’s mother around 11 a.m. to say that the girl was unresponsive. No one called 911 for help until about 40 minutes later, according to the release.
Another child at the home told officers that Coombs assaulted the child several times, including on February 19. Police also said that Coombs was the only adult at the home when the abuse took place.
When police reported to the scene, they noticed that Paisley suffered bruises and ligature marks on her wrists and feet. The injuries suggested that she had been tied up, according to authorities.
While speaking to police, Coombs originally said that Paisley woke up “groggy” on the day of her death.
“However, when he was confronted about the bruising and ligature marks on the victim, Coombs admitted to causing the injuries that led to her death,” deputies wrote in the statement. “He advised that he had bound her hands with a robe tie and her legs with painter’s tape to prevent her from reaching into her diaper the night before.”
Coombs claimed that he picked up Paisley and dropped her on the floor while she was still bound, which caused her to gasp for air. He also said that he punched and hit the girl, though admitted he “took it too far.”
Additionally, Coombs told authorities that he never called 911 because he was “scared.”
It is possible that Coombs may face additional charges, which will be determined once an autopsy is complete.
Paisley’s great-aunt, Tabitha Harless, owns the trailer where the crime took place, and she told WESH that she arrived on scene in the aftermath.
Harless said that Coombs was “standing there with his arms folded up doing absolutely nothing.” She continued, “Nobody seemed to be in a, really, panic. I performed CPR, but in the meantime, I was looking at her — why is she wet? Where did these bruises come from?”
The great-aunt then shared that one of Paisley’s older brothers told her what happened.
Coombs is currently in custody at the Marion County Jail without bond, according to online records viewed by Us Weekly. It is not currently clear if he has entered a plea or retained legal representation.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Us’ request for comment.
Read the full article here
