The aunt of a young boy from San Jose, who was reportedly abused and killed by his cousin, has shared a poignant message in remembrance. Jessica Moreno, the aunt of 2-year-old Jackson, expressed her grief shortly before his passing on April 9.
“My nephew is on his way to heaven with his mother. Officially he has no brain activity,” she posted on Facebook.
Moreno reflected on her recent string of losses, noting, “In the last year and a half, I have lost four members of my immediate family. I have to do something for my family.” She chose not to elaborate on the details surrounding Jackson’s case, citing an ongoing investigation. “Life was so unfair to him from the beginning. Please know we will get justice! We love Jax,” she added.
The 18-year-old cousin of Jackson is said to have left him “small, bruised, and battered,” with police discovering the child on Easter Sunday. He faces charges including murder and other serious felonies related to child assault and sexual abuse.
Authorities wish to prosecute him as an adult. Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen stated, “This was a 2-year-old child who had been severely abused and brutally murdered. And we want to ensure that the level of accountability is appropriate.”
According to investigators, evidence suggests that the cousin sexually and physically abused Jackson after he was placed in the care of a family by the county in February. The adoptive mother, Bridget Michelle Martinez, had previous felony convictions for child endangerment.
Moreno publicly stated she has no regrets about gaining full custody of Jackson, alongside her sister Riley Wallace, who has indicated intentions to sue the Santa Clara County Department of Family and Children Services for placing him in potentially harmful care.
Wallace expressed her shock and devastation, saying, “We are heartbroken for him and miss him every day.”
The family recently held a #JusticeforJaxon event to honor the toddler’s memory. Moreno has voiced a desire for systemic changes, calling for better background checks and accountability measures within child protective services. She stated that while she’d like to see the cousin face the death penalty, she realistically hopes for a life sentence instead, expressing a wish for justice for what he subjected Jackson to.
“Stoning should be brought back and left to the families,” she expressed in a Facebook post, showcasing the community’s outrage over Jackson’s tragic fate.
