HOUMA, La. — A Houma woman accused of the beating death of her own son wanted evidence set to be used against her thrown out before her case goes to trial.
Defense attorneys for Maya Jones questioned whether there was probable cause when records from medical facilities, social services, and a domestic abuse organization were gathered by authorities.
A Terrebonne Parish judge decided those records can be used in the murder trial against her and her former boyfriend, Jermaine Robinson, who is also accused of the two-year-old’s murder.
“Seems like justice might prevail,” said family friend Michael Willis after the judge decided to allow the evidence.
Willis says that’s the feeling from the family of Ezekiel Harry, 2, who police say was murdered last July at the hands of his own mother, Maya Jones and her then live-in boyfriend Jermaine Robinson.
“It’s hard looking at his mom and her live-in boyfriend, sitting there with their head up high, knowing, that from the evidence that we hear today, they murdered the two-year-old,” said Willis.
It was revealed Monday that Ezekiel is believed to have been killed inside a home provided to Jones by The Haven, an organization designed to protect victims of abuse. According to court records, the home, where Robinson was also living, became a place of abuse instead of protection.
“Normally with these kinds of cases we will sometimes say that the district attorney dropped the ball, or the police department dropped the ball, or the judge dropped the ball. In this case, everybody did their part,” said Willis.
Part of the evidence defense attorneys wanted thrown out are statements from Jones’ other young kids who told authorities there was abuse in the home. According to court records the kids were forced to use the bathroom in buckets, weren’t allowed to come out of their room, and were scared Jones would find out if they told.
“To listen to the evidence of them speak about the mother abusing them as well as her boyfriend, it’s sad,” said Willis.
Court records also reveal Jones’ three other kids were under the impression that Ezekiel was sleeping under a blanket in a carrier last July when they went for a picnic near the bayou. Authorities say Jones then reported Ezekiel was kidnapped, but they later determined the boy was already dead. His body was found inside a trashcan. According to court records, there were obvious signs of abuse.
“A kid’s life is just so precious and every time I think about it, it hurts me because when any child gets killed it’s like my own child,” said Willis.
A year after his death, state lawmakers passed Ezekiel’s Law, designed to reform how child abuse cases are handled in Louisiana. That’s something the family hopes will live on in the absence of the two-year-old it’s named after.
“Hopefully justice will prevail, and they will get the punishment they both deserve,” said Willis.
Jones and Robinson are being tried separately on first degree murder charges. They could each face the death penalty once they go to trial. Trail dates have not been set.