La. mom, boyfriend arrested after her 2-year-old son’s body is found in duffel bag inside trash can

HOUMA, La. (TCD) -- A 28-year-old woman and her 36-year-old boyfriend were taken into custody in connection with the death of her missing son, who was found deceased inside a duffel bag.

According to Houma Police, on July 12 at approximately 12 p.m., officers received a call about a possible abduction of a 2-year-old boy near the 100 block of Mahler Street. When police contacted the child’s mother, Maya Jones, she reportedly said she was on Bayou Terrebonne with her children when someone on a gray truck grabbed her child and left.

Police reportedly learned quickly that Jones' information was not accurate.

Houma Police said they learned Jones walked with the victim, Ezekiel Harry, and her three other children, and once they arrived at Bayou Terrebonne, she allegedly started going to residences and saying her son had been taken.

In a follow-up statement, Houma Police said they located Harry’s remains that same day at around 6 p.m. on Daspit Street. Both Jones and her boyfriend, Jermaine Robinson, were arrested on charges of first-degree murder, obstruction of justice, and related charges.

During a press conference Wednesday, July 13, Houma Police Chief Dana Coleman shared more details about the case and said investigators "suspected foul play" because they found "several holes in her story."

According to Coleman, surveillance images showed Jones and Robinson walking around the area with a black duffel bag. Hours later, the two are seen without it. Additionally, investigators reportedly saw photos of Jones walking with her three other children and a baby carrier, but they later learned the carrier was empty.

Coleman said Harry’s body is in the coroner’s custody. They are still working to determine a cause of death, but Coleman said he and investigators "do suspect there was some physical abuse."

At the press conference, Terrebonne Parish District Attorney Joseph Waltz Jr. said, "This is absolutely a potential death penalty case. We are aware of abusive patterns involving this young child. It shocks the conscience that this type of abuse would go on."

Waltz added he expects first-degree murder indictments for both Jones and Robinson.

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