Photo: Harris County Sheriff's Office
A tragic case from Texas has emerged involving a five-month-old girl who was left brain-dead after enduring brutal abuse over a horrific weekend. The child identified only as Ja’nae, died on October 2, 2024, after being rushed to the hospital on September 29, suffering from multiple rib fractures and a brain bleed. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez shared the disturbing details in a post on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.
According to Gonzalez, Ja’nae experienced a “horrific weekend” beginning on September 26, during which she exhibited severe symptoms, including vomiting, partial paralysis, and vomiting blood. “It wasn’t until Sunday that she was taken to the ER,” Gonzalez wrote, highlighting the parents’ delay in seeking medical assistance.
Upon arrival at the hospital, Ja’nae was found to have both old and new fractures, and her condition was described as “sad and disturbing.” Gonzalez reported, “Her prognosis was grim” when she was admitted, and she had “no brain function” at that time.
The girl’s parents, Glenn Wayne Smith, 25, and Jasmine Ellison, 23, from Houston, have since been arrested and charged with injury to a child and serious bodily injury. During court proceedings, prosecutors revealed that the couple allegedly waited too long to call 911 for help.
“The abuse is said to have taken place over a four-day period, or the most recent abuse, in which the child was in the care of both this defendant and the child’s father,” prosecutors stated, as reported by the local station.
Court documents detail the severity of Ja’nae’s injuries, which included swelling and bleeding of the brain, the absence of brain activity upon admission, blood coming from her mouth, and broken ribs—both recent and healed. Prosecutors further alleged that medical professionals indicated the injuries were likely the result of “aggressively shaking the child.”
Currently, Smith and Ellison remain in custody at the Harris County Jail. Initially held on a $1 million bond, Smith’s bond was later reduced to $250,000, as reported by ABC 13.
The heartbreaking circumstances surrounding Ja’nae’s death have raised significant concerns about child safety and the accountability of those entrusted with their care. The investigation continues as the community grapples with the tragic loss of an innocent life.
Sad and disturbing. On 9/29/24, 5-month-old Ja’nae (female) was transported to a hospital from the 1400 blk of Plumwood. Ja’nae suffered from multiple rib fractures and a brain bleed. Her prognosis was grim. Sadly, she succumbed to her injuries on1/2 pic.twitter.com/dTXWbvQD5j— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) October 7, 2024
