Photo: WOWT / Omaha Police
(Omaha, NE) -- The suspect in the death of a five year old boy will be held without bond.
Omaha Police say 20 year old Antonea Cannon is charged in connection the death of Jaylen Hearns. She was denied bond Friday afternoon during a court appearance. Police say Wednesday afternoon, officers were called to the CHI Health-Creighton University Medical Center at 24th and Cuming for a report of an unresponsive child. Hearns was pronounced dead at the hospital.
According to reports, Cannon told police she left Hearnes in the care of her 12 year old sister at her home while she went to work. Investigators say Cannon claims that Jaylen's biological mother asked if she could pick up the boy and take him to lunch. Cannon says she agreed and told her sister about the plan. The biological mother then reportedly picked up Jaylen, had him for an unknown amount of time and then dropped him off back at Cannon's home.
Investigators say Cannon claims she returned from work to pick up Jaylen and took him along while she picked up her two other children at daycare. Cannon told police she then saw Hearnes was unresponsive and took him to the hospital, but investigators say that story doesn’t add up.
While Cannon was interviewed by police, her 12-year-old sister was located and interviewed at Project Harmony. Cannon's sister told police she was not at home on the date of the incident and did not babysit Jaylen. She says the last time she saw him alive was the day before. Another sister of Cannon’s confirmed what the 12-year-old sister said. Police say injuries consistent with severe child abuse were found on the boy's body.
Police say during a search of Cannon's house, blood and blood splatter were found, along with a “striking instrument” that was splintered and had possible blood spots. Cannon told police she was the sole caretaker of Hearnes. Her children have been removed from her care and made wards of the state.
Cannon was originally booked on charges of homicide and intentional child abuse, but the charges were amended to “commit child abuse intentional with death.” Cannon has a daughter with Jaylen's father, who is currently incarcerated at the Douglas County Jail. He has been there for the last month on a number of charges, including domestic violence.
A preliminary hearing is set for April 5. If convicted, she faces 20 years to life.