Tragic Plea: Aunt Speaks Out After Toddler’s Heartbreaking Abuse and Murder in Foster Care

In a deeply moving tribute, the aunt of a toddler tragically lost in San Jose has shared her sorrow over the child’s devastating passing. The young boy, allegedly subjected to sexual abuse and murder by his cousin, has left a profound void in his family.

Jessica Moreno, the aunt of 2-year-old Jaxon, expressed her grief in a heartfelt message just before his death on April 9.

“My nephew is on his way to heaven to be with his mama. He officially has no brain activity,” Moreno posted on Facebook, capturing the depth of her heartache.

In her message, Moreno reflected on the series of personal losses she has endured, underscoring a period of relentless tragedy for her family.

“Over the last year and a half, I have now lost four of my immediate family members. Something has to change for our family. I won’t discuss the details due to an ongoing investigation, and we only know bits and pieces. Life has been so unjust to him from the start. Just know we will seek justice! We love you, Jax,” she continued.

The 18-year-old cousin of Jaxon is accused of leaving him in a “small, bruised, and battered” condition when police discovered him on Easter Sunday. He faces charges of murder and multiple felonies, including child assault causing death and sexual assault.

Prosecutors want to try the 18-year-old, then 17, as an adult.

“This was a 2-year-old child who was horribly abused and viciously murdered,” Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. “And we want to make sure that the level of accountability is the right level.”

Investigators say evidence points to the suspect sexually assaulting his cousin and physically abusing him when he was placed with his family by the county in February. The foster mother, Bridget Michelle Martinez, had a prior conviction for felony child endangerment.

Moreno has said publicly that she regrets not gaining full custody of her nephew, as she and her sister Riley Wallace, had been trying to do. Wallace previously said they plan to sue the Santa Clara County’s Department of Family and Children’s Services for placing the child in the foster mother’s care.

“We were shocked, distraught, and hopeless at the fact that CPS failed him and allowed this to happen. We are heartbroken without him and miss him every single day,” Wallace told The California Post.

She’s hoping the system that allegedly doomed Jaxon is changed, and called for the teen to be served the death penalty, even if it is unlikely.

“We want to see change in the system and see CPS held accountable for not doing enough and doing proper background checks on families and doing their job properly!” she said.

“We want [the teen] served the death penalty, but that won’t happen, I pray he gets life in prison as an adult for what he made my nephew suffer and go through. I hope he’s suffering in jail, and I hope his mother serves time for abusing and neglecting Jaxon.”

The family recently held a #JusticeforJaxon event and mourned the toddler. Moreno, and the family have been enraged by what the teen allegedly did to her nephew.

“They should bring back stoning and let the family take care of it,” she wrote on Facebook.

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