California Man Charged With Murder in Death of 2-Year-Old Foster Child

An 18-year-old San Jose man, who was 17 at the time of the alleged murder, has been charged in juvenile court, officials said.

Audrey Simons

Published: 4/21/2026, 4:49:08 PM EDT

California Man Charged With Murder in Death of 2-Year-Old Foster Child — File photo of handcuff on June 27, 2020. (Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images)

A San Jose man has been charged with murder in connection with the death of his 2-year-old foster brother, who prosecutors say was sexually assaulted numerous times before being killed earlier this month.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office announced Monday that an 18-year-old, whose identity has not been released, has been charged in juvenile court.

Prosecutors said the suspect was 17 at the time of the alleged murder. Officers were called to the 300 block of Otono Court on April 5 for a report of a toddler found unresponsive in his crib, according to a press release from the San Jose Police Department.

The child, referred to by officials as Baby Jaxon, was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, where medical personnel discovered "several suspicious traumatic injuries" and placed him on life support, authorities said.

Detectives uncovered evidence suggesting the suspect—who is also the toddler's cousin—had sexually and physically assaulted the child and took him into custody on April 8. The 2-year-old succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead the following day.

San Jose police said the child had been placed with a foster caregiver "who had a concerning criminal history." The woman was also arrested, but was later released pending further investigation, officials said.

The District Attorney's Office said the 18-year-old accused of killing the child also faces nine additional felony charges, including child assault causing death and assault with a hair tie, following earlier charges of sexual assault, including forced sodomy.

Prosecutors have filed a motion to transfer the case out of the juvenile court system. Speaking at a press conference Monday, District Attorney Jeff Rosen said rape and murder of a child are among the most serious crimes his office prosecutes and that the case should be heard in adult court.

"Could anything have been done to save Baby Jaxon from being the victim of a horrible and terrible crime? At this point, the answer to that is I don't know," Rosen said. "This is the third child in the last couple of years under the care and custody of the Department of Family and Children's Services who has been murdered. Enough—enough. Change needs to come, and it needs to come fast. And it needs to happen now."

Rosen said he couldn't share any additional details about the case, but noted that the San Jose Police Department, the Medical Examiner's Office, and the District Attorney's Office are continuing their investigation to determine whether others may be responsible for crimes against the toddler.

If the allegations against the suspect are proven in juvenile court, he could be sentenced to seven years in Secure Track, a locked facility for juveniles found responsible for serious crimes. If the case is tried in adult court, the suspect could face a lengthy prison sentence.

NTD reached out to the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency for comment, but a response was not received by publication time.