Florida man babysitting 3-year-old allegedly bound her hands and feet, dropped her to her death

CITRA, Fla. (TCN) -- A man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter, authorities say.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office announced that 32-year-old Jeroen Jarrel Coombs was charged with aggravated child abuse resulting in death after allegedly causing Paisley Brown to die. On Feb. 19, authorities were called to a trailer home because Brown was reportedly unresponsive. Responding officers were told that Coombs, who was attempting to leave, had harmed the child. 

Brown was transported to a hospital and died from her injuries, according to police, and Coombs was detained while a homicide investigation began. Interviews with both Coombs and witnesses determined he had been alone with Brown and told the child’s mother she was unresponsive, but he did not call 911 until 40 minutes later. A juvenile witness told police he heard Coombs allegedly hit Brown and disclosed prior physical abuse. 

An arrest report obtained by WCJB says Brown’s aunt, Tabitha Harless, arrived at the house before first responders and attempted CPR on Brown. According to the outlet, Harless said, “He said he hurt her. He killed her, and I looked at him passing in the hallway, and I said a few choice words to him, and I said, ‘You killed her,’ and I told paramedics, as they were still performing CPR, I said, ‘He killed her.’” According to WESH, Harless owns the trailer home where the incident took place.

During an interview with detectives, Coombs allegedly admitted to causing the injuries that led to Brown’s death, according to police. He said he bound the child’s hand with a robe tie and bound her legs with painter’s tape to keep her from reaching into her diaper at night.

Coombs allegedly admitted to detectives that he picked up Brown while she was still bound and dropped her on the floor, where she gasped for air, and then admitted he “took it too far” and allegedly struck her multiple times. According to police, Coombs reportedly did not call 911 because he said he was scared.

WTVT reports that at the hospital, Brown showed signs of possible ligature marks on her wrists and ankles as well as bruising on her chest and female private areas.

WFTV reports Brown’s mother, whose name has not been released by authorities, is currently not facing any charges. She was not at home when Coombs allegedly attacked Brown. Deputies are reportedly looking into her actions and considering charging her as well, according to a sheriff’s office spokesman.

An investigation revealed Brown’s mother was getting her nails done on the morning she left Brown with Coombs. He reportedly showed her the unresponsive child over FaceTime and she allegedly finished her nail appointment before coming home, according to WFTV. Brown’s mother also reportedly called someone who was on the way to the home and told them to stay away.

WTVT reports the relationship between Coombs and Brown is not known, but an arrest affidavit obtained by the outlet described him as her caretaker. WCJB reports four other children were living in the home as well and they were turned over to the Department of Children and Families.

According to WESH, Coombs has a criminal history. He was convicted of battery in 2019 and domestic violence in 2020, and in both cases, the victim was a mother of one of his children.

Coombs is being held without bond. More charges may be brought pending the cause of death report, according to police.

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