Trending Now - Teen Faces Charges for Fatal Assault on 2-year-old Cousin
WHO:
ABC7 Los Angeles - The suspect has since turned 18 years old.
KQED - The suspect's mother, Martinez, was convicted of felony child endangerment and a misdemeanor DUI in 2014.
ABC7 Los Angeles - The suspect is a 17-year-old foster brother and cousin of the victim, Baby Jaxon.
KQED - The victim's mother is Brianna Burton, and his father is Albert Juarez. The suspect's mother is Martinez, who has a prior felony conviction for child endangerment.
WHAT:
ABC7 Los Angeles - The Santa Clara County District Attorney, Jeff Rosen, is seeking to try the suspect as an adult.
KQED - The county's Department of Family and Children Services is conducting its own investigation while requesting that the California Department of Social Services do the same.
ABC7 Los Angeles - The 17-year-old was charged with murder, child assault causing death, and sexual assault.
KQED - The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office is investigating whether to bring charges against others connected to Jaxon's death.
KQED - The county's Department of Family and Children Services is facing scrutiny and has been involved in multiple child deaths.
WHERE:
ABC7 Los Angeles - The incident occurred in San Jose, California.
KQED - Jaxon was placed with Martinez in San Jose after being in the custody of the county.
WHEN:
KQED - The suspect is due back in court on May 21st, 2026, to be appointed an attorney.
ABC7 Los Angeles - Baby Jaxon was found unresponsive on Easter Sunday, April 9th, 2023.
ABC7 Los Angeles - The suspect was formally charged on April 17th, 2023.
KQED - The suspect is scheduled to return to court on May 21st, 2026.
WHY:
KQED - The county is facing scrutiny due to the placement of Jaxon with Martinez, who had a prior felony conviction that should have disqualified her from being a foster parent.
ABC7 Los Angeles - The charges stem from allegations of repeated sexual and physical abuse leading to Jaxon's death.
KQED - Concerns have been raised about the safety of children in the care of the Department of Family and Children Services, as this is the third child under their care to be murdered in recent years.
HOW:
ABC7 Los Angeles - Evidence suggests that Jaxon had been repeatedly sexually and physically abused after being placed with the family by the county in February 2023.
ABC7 Los Angeles - Evidence suggests that Jaxon had multiple suspicious traumatic injuries due to abuse.
KQED - The county is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Jaxon's placement and care.
(UPDATED April 21, 2026 21:16 UTC)
The Santa Clara County District Attorney, Jeff Rosen, is seeking to try an 18-year-old suspect as an adult in a case involving severe allegations of abuse. The county's Department of Family and Children Services is conducting its own investigation, particularly scrutinizing the placement of the suspect, Jaxon, with his mother, Martinez, who had a prior felony conviction that disqualified her from being a foster parent. Jaxon is scheduled to return to court May 21st, to be appointed an attorney as the investigation continues into the abuse he reportedly suffered after being placed with the family in February 20th23.
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(UPDATED April 21, 2026 19:24 UTC)
A 17-year-old foster brother and cousin of Baby Jaxon has been charged with murder, child assault causing death, and sexual assault following the infant's tragic death in San Jose, California, on Easter April 9thth, 2023. Jaxon was found unresponsive, and evidence indicates he suffered multiple suspicious traumatic injuries due to abuse, prompting the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office to investigate potential charges against others connected to the case. The county's Department of Family and Children Services is under scrutiny, as this incident marks the third child under their care to be murdered in recent years, raising serious concerns about child safety.