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Florida man charged with murder of 3-year-old girl
A 32-year-old Florida man has been charged with the murder of a 3-year-old girl after authorities say he admitted to repeatedly beating her while caring for her at a home in Citra.
ORLANDO, Fla. - A Florida man has been charged with the murder of 3-year-old Paisley Brown, and her mother has been arrested on child neglect charges, authorities said.
Jeroen Jarrel Coombs, 32, previously charged with aggravated child abuse, was arrested Feb. 19 after admitting to repeatedly beating Paisley while caring for her and four other children.
Jennifer Farrah Kendrick, 26, Paisley’s mother, was arrested March 4 on two counts of felony child neglect after investigators said she knew about the abuse and failed to intervene. Both are being held without bond at the Marion County Jail.
The backstory:
Deputies with the Marion County Sheriff's Office said Coombs bound Paisley’s arms with a robe tie and her legs with tape, then struck her multiple times, causing fatal injuries.
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Paisley was found unresponsive Feb. 19 at a home on NE 44th Avenue in Citra and later died at a local hospital.
Jeroen Jarrel Coombs (left) and Paisley Brown.
Authorities reported bruising on her chest and private areas, along with possible ligature marks on her wrists and ankles. Coombs did not call 911 for about 40 minutes after discovering Paisley was unresponsive, reportedly because he was scared, investigators said. He later wrote a letter apologizing for her death.
Investigators said other children in the home, ages 1 to 9, reported that Coombs had placed them in handcuffs and physically abused them.
Kendrick initially denied knowledge of the abuse but later admitted she knew Coombs had harmed Paisley and failed to act, allowing the abuse to continue. She is also facing a probation violation from prior felony charges.
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Circuit Judge Peter Brigham denied bond for Coombs during a recent hearing.
Authorities have not said whether Kendrick’s prior knowledge could result in additional charges beyond child neglect.
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Marion County Sheriff's Office and court filings.