A 6-year-old girl named Jalayah Eason died early on May 26, 2023, in the Bronx after she was found unconscious with bruises on her body and wrists. Her mother, Lynija Eason, appeared in the Bronx Criminal Court in connection with her daughter's death and was also charged with harming her other two children, ages 8 and 3.
Authorities reportedly found the family's apartment in a state of dire neglect, with a strong stench of urine and feces, as well as rotting food throughout the home. Injuries were also allegedly observed on the other two children.
At the time, Eason was arrested and charged with acting in a way that causes harm to a child. Nearly a year after Jalayah's death, on April 27, 2024, Eason was charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter, NBC New York reported.
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A neighbor allegedly heard Jalayah Eason begging for her life in the middle of the night.
Dennis Rivera, a neighbor who lives in the apartment above the family's, alleges that he heard Jalayah screaming for her life close to 4 a.m. on May 26, just hours before she was pronounced dead, reported the New York Post. “At 3:42 in the morning that girl was screaming," Rivera said. "She was screaming for dear life … She was screaming like hell. She kept saying ‘stop, stop, stop’ … You could hear the thumps, bro.”
Jalayah’s mother called 911 at about 4 a.m., saying Jalayah was not breathing and was lying in a closet in their 12th-floor apartment on East 165th Street, per the New York Post. Jalayah was brought to Lincoln Hospital and pronounced dead an hour after arriving there, reported Distractify. She was found with bruises when first responders arrived at the family's apartment, the outlet reported.
Authorities say they found evidence of harm on the 6-year-old and her two siblings.
Two other children were reportedly found in the home with bruises on their bodies. An 8-year-old boy and 3-year-old girl reportedly had marks on them, indicating that they had been restrained, per Distractify. A detective with the NYPD documented the injuries of the other two children in the complaint against their mother.
Detective Frankie Hernandez noted that Jezheir, 8, had “countless small lacerations in various stages of healing on his back, scalp, arms and legs,” per the New York Post. Jelyenn, 3, also had a “widespread discolored rash to her inner thighs and buttocks, and a long, discolored scar on her waist," Hernandez wrote.
The family's Bronx apartment, which is part of the federally funded New York City Housing Authority program, was found in a state of disarray and neglect. It was reportedly covered in trash, with open food containers on the floor, as well as soiled bedding and clothes, according to the complaint.
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Authorities noted that several calls concerning domestic violence in the family had been made before the incident.
CPS released a statement saying the other children are safe, but did not disclose their location. According to the New York Post, a spokesperson from the city's Administration for Children’s Services wrote: “We are investigating this case with the NYPD. The safety of the other children in the home has been secured.” Eason was arrested for child endangerment but may be charged with additional crimes, pending the results of the autopsy, noted Distractify.
Video footage of the young girl and her mother interacting in a way that appears concerning also circulated on social media. One video in particular showed the 6-year-old appear hesitant to make eye contact and respond to her mother, further adding to speculation that her mother beat her to death.
People on social media were furious that no one stepped in before Jalayah died.
Readers of the New York Post article covering the story were appalled that calls had been made before but no one took action, including CPS and the neighbors who heard screams. People were infuriated that the mother was released after evidence of abuse and harm was reportedly found on all three children.
"Neighbor should have called 911 and banged on the door as well," suggested one reader. "Why has she been released. Why is it not yet a homicide. Someone needs to take care of the other siblings."
"How many times were the police called there prior to this?" wondered someone else. "Has anyone asked them? Did NO ONE ever CALL on this insane mother before this?!"
Another user wrote: "'Police sources said there had been several calls for domestic violence at the family’s address.' Even with this and probably CPS they still didn't help these kids."
Many people across social media have echoed these concerns, posting photos and videos of the Easons to spread awareness about the case and calling for the mother to be charged with murder.
"So sad I pray that mother get what is coming to her," wrote one person on TikTok. "That child did not deserve that."
In April 2024, Eason was charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter.
On April 27, 2024, Eason was charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter in connection with Jalayah's death, NBC New York reported. The criminal complaint accused the mother of "repeatedly striking her daughter about the body with a hard object and leaving her hanging in said closet." According to the court filing, "Her cause of death was determined to be Child Abuse Including Restraint (Suspension), Positional Asphyxia, Blunt Force Injuries of Multiple Ages, and Malnourishment."
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.
