2 Charged With Neglect in 3-Year-Old's Death

A Sarasota man and a woman are behind bars and charged with child neglect following the death of a 3-year-old girl, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office reports.

Jewel Howard was pronounced dead at a local hospital April 11 after a family friend had called 911 earlier that night after seeing the toddler "in medical distress," according to authorities.

"It was obvious from the 9-1-1 recording there was no attempt at CPR by anyone at the residence," an arrest affidavit states. 

An autopsy performed the next day showed blunt force trauma to the girl's abdomen had caused "a lacerated/crushed liver, other massive internal injuries, and a vast amount of internal bleeding, leading to her death," sheriff's office spokesperson Wendy Rose said.

The girl also had two posterior broken ribs and other bruises on her body that the medical examiner said were not related to lifesaving efforts, according to Rose.

The injuries were inflicted while the girl was solely in the care of her mother, 21-year-old Asia Rosier, and Jumar Edwards, who both reside in the 2700 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, investigators said.

The pair was arrested and charged with felony child neglect. They were being held in Sarasota County Jail without bond.

Both have criminal histories, the sheriff's office said: Five of Rosier’s prior arrests are for violence-related charges, including aggravated battery causing bodily harm, and Edwards’ two most recent arrests are for battery.

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