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A sick California teen has been charged with the murder and sexual assault of his 2-year-old cousin and foster brother.

The crime devastated friends and family, who were distraught at a court hearing on Monday. Baby Jaxon was found unresponsive in his crib on Easter Sunday in San Jose.

Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen charged a 17-year-old, who has since turned 18, with murder and several felonies such as child assault causing death and sexual assault.


  Baby Jaxon passed away in the hospital several days after being found. Obtained by the CA Post Baby Jaxon passed away in the hospital several days after being found. Obtained by the CA Post

  The crime against Jaxon (here with his aunt) devastated friends and family — who were distraught at a court hearing on Monday. Obtained by the CA Post The crime against Jaxon (here with his aunt) devastated friends and family — who were distraught at a court hearing on Monday. Obtained by the CA Post

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

Jaxon passed away in the hospital several days after being found and his death is still under investigation.

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.


  He was discovered unresponsive in his crib on Easter Sunday. ABC7 He was discovered unresponsive in his crib on Easter Sunday. ABC7

County spokesman Peter Gallotta told KGO the Department of Family and Children Services is conducting a probe while also urging the California Department of Social Services to do the same.

“The county is committed to swiftly investigating every aspect of this horrific tragedy and publicly sharing the results of these investigations when available and to the extent allowable by law,” Gallotta said.

The district attorney urged the child services agency to enact change after recent deaths associated with it.

“This is the third child in the past couple of years under the care and custody of the Department of Family and Children Services who has been murdered,” Rosen said. “Change needs to come, and it needs to come fast — and it needs to happen now.”


  “I can’t imagine what this sweet little baby went through,” said family friend Evangeline Dominguez-Estrada. ABC7 “I can’t imagine what this sweet little baby went through,” said family friend Evangeline Dominguez-Estrada. ABC7

His family can’t understand why the vicious crime happened.

“I can’t imagine what this sweet little baby went through,” family friend Evangeline Dominguez-Estrada told ABC 7. “Who can hear a baby crying and continue to harm them, let alone kill them?”

“He was only 2, and he did not deserve this,” Dominguez-Estrada said.

The suspect will be back in court on May 21. The district attorney wants to try him as an adult though the crimes happened while he was a minor.

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