Parents lose custody of their children daily in the United States. The reasoning might not always make sense to all parties involved, but the child’s well-being should always be the highest priority. Sometimes, even the safest-looking environments can be deceiving. When 4-year-old Niomi Rose went to live with her aunt, Linda Rose, it seemed like a perfect place for her to thrive. But instead, Niomi found herself in the care of Rose’s boyfriend, Collin Aber, who was anything but safe. He allegedly beat Niomi to death, leaving behind a devastated family.
Rose found the toddler unresponsive.
According to a release from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office posted to social media, Rose called 911 around 11:30 p.m. April 11, 2026, to report Niomi unresponsive. When emergency responders arrived at the home in Hephzibah, Georgia, they reportedly found the toddler with significant injuries and took her to WellStar MCG Medical Center in Augusta. Tragically, the staff declared her dead just after midnight on April 12.
The couple apparently responded strangely.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies came to the home and hospital after learning Rose and Aber had apparently left the scene. When they tried to stop the pair’s Chevrolet Acadia, Rose got out of the car but Aber allegedly refused to comply.
“A vehicle pursuit ensued and ended in the area of Curry Street and Division Street. Aber exited the vehicle armed with a handgun and forcibly entered a residence located at 2009 Division Street,” the sheriff’s office’s release continued. “The residence was later confirmed to belong to Aber’s father, who remained inside at the time. It was initially unclear whether he was being held against his will.”
Aber entered a standoff with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team.
The sheriff’s office reportedly tried to negotiate with Aber for several hours to no avail. Instead, authorities ultimately breached the residence and took the 28-year-old into custody “without further incident.” He now faces murder charges in Niomi’s death, adding to an already sordid criminal past. Per the Augusta Press, Aber has past convictions of receiving stolen property, criminal damage to property, and obstruction, for which he spent time in a Georgia prison.
Niomi’s death has left her family devastated.
Susan Keller Jackson set up a GoFundMe account for Niomi’s family to help with her final expenses. Jackson said Rose did the best she could for her niece.
“Niomi Rose was only 4 years old. A sweet, innocent, beautiful little girl with a bright smile that could light up any room. She was full of life, love, and joy—the kind of child who should have had a lifetime of memories ahead of her,” Jackson wrote on the page. It raised nearly $12,000.
The little girl’s death raises many questions.
Social media posts about the toddler continue to question how Niomi’s life came to such a tragic end. We may never know the answer. Sadly, love and attraction can lead people to make poor partner choices and overlook potential red flags. Hopefully, Aber gets what he deserves in the end if he truly killed Niomi. Monsters that hurt children should never get a chance to hurt anyone ever again.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
