HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — A candidate for Henry County Commission and her husband appeared in court Monday to formally face charges in the death of their 2-year-old foster child.
Jennifer Rosenbaum, 27, is charged with murder and three counts of cruelty to children. Her husband, Joseph Rosenbaum, 26, faces two child cruelty charges.
Channel 2’s Steve Gehlbach reported that the couple stood silently before a judge as he read the charges and issued a $10,000 bond for Joseph Rosenbaum.
Jennifer Rosenbaum will remain jailed on the murder charge. Their attorney said they are innocent.
“She did not do anything to the children. He did not do anything to the children. They are totally innocent,” attorney Corrine Mull said.
Police said paramedics were called to the couple's McDonough home last month to help a choking child.
Laila Marie Daniel, 2, died at the home.
A criminal warrant for Jennifer Rosenbaum claims she failed to feed the child and hit Laila in the abdomen so hard she bled. Authorities have not released an official cause of death.
The Rosenbaums were caring for Laila and her sister, 4, who is now with another foster family.
The child’s biological grandmother said the two weeks since her death have been unbearable.
“We haven’t stopped crying. It’s been unbelievable seeing that baby in that casket. It’s torn the family apart,” Gina Banks said.
A neighbor told Channel 2 Action News that she noticed bruises on the child's face in August but was told that she fell down the stairs.
The biological family said there may have been months of abuse leading up to her death.
“These children have been in abusive homes serially, and there’s no telling where they were abused,” Daniel said.
Laila’s biological mother said she called the Division of Family and Children Services multiple times to get the children removed from the home, because she felt it was unsafe but believes the state did not take her seriously.
WSBTV
