Parents are seeking answers after a 17-year-old autistic boy was charged with allegedly dropping his 4-month-old daughter on the floor of a home in Southern California used as a daycare.
The name of the boy, who is still in custody at Los Padrinos Juvenile Detention Center, has not been disclosed due to his age. He faced charges on Thursday regarding the death of Troy Mae Elaine Cohn.
This tragic event occurred around 11:30 a.m. on June 29 at a residence on Linoac Drive in Claremont, an upscale area in Los Angeles County.
According to police, officers arrived at a medical emergency call and found the infant allegedly thrown on the floor by the teenager.
Emergency responders rushed her to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, later transferring her to Children’s Hospital of Orange County due to her critical injuries. Unfortunately, despite medical efforts, she did not survive.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office subsequently charged the boy with murder.
As the case unfolds, the grieving family has raised concerns about the daycare’s role, claiming that it fostered a dangerous environment by allowing the boy to be near young children.
The child’s mother, Jasmine Cohn, reported receiving a distressing call while at work, urging her to come to the hospital.
“My child had bruises all over. His head was fractured,” Cohn told a local news outlet. “I lost my daughter because of the carelessness of that nursery.”
The circumstances surrounding the teenager’s presence at the daycare remain murky. This facility caters to children younger than eight, and Troy’s parents suspect she might have been there supervised by the owner.
Cohn expressed that no child should have been in such a situation. “He shouldn’t have been in daycare with kids,” she remarked. “Not just my child, but any child.”
The baby’s grandmother, Andrea Holcomb, expressed disbelief over the tragedy, questioning, “Do I really have to drop her off at daycare and then rush to the hospital because she was hurt?”
Troy’s father, Anthony Owens, stated he struggles to comprehend why his daughter was killed but insists that those accountable should face consequences. He and Cohn believe daycare centers should be shut down.
Meanwhile, the family has started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral and legal expenses related to seeking justice for their daughter.
“Jasmine’s world came crashing down when she lost her four-month-old,” the fundraiser explains. “No parent should endure such unimaginable pain.”
This incident has deeply affected the Claremont community, which has historically encountered very few homicides.
Authorities continue to investigate the case.
