The Tennessee Department of Children Services (DCS) had reportedly been alerted to the welfare of a 4-year-old girl, Sequoia Samuels, before she was tragically discovered deceased last Tuesday, CrimeSpace has learned.
The girl’s mother, Brittany Jackson, is said to have confessed that her daughter had passed away several weeks prior to her and her cohabitating boyfriend, Jaylon Hobson, declaring her missing.
The Memphis police made the grim discovery of Samuels’ remains in a trash receptacle outside the family home. A relative had informed local media, WMC, of visible indications of maltreatment before the young girl’s mysterious disappearance and subsequent death.
The cousin detailed the haunting evidence: “There were bruises on her back and upper arm. Her feet would often be discolored,” she disclosed.
The relative further explained that Samuels, who was born prematurely and had respiratory issues, relied on a feeding tube. She claimed to have made desperate pleas to Jackson for custody and had repeatedly reached out to DCS without success.
“They didn’t request photographs or videos. They didn’t ask for any form of substantiating proof. I was not asked for anything,” the frustrated cousin expressed to WMC.
While DCS has confirmed their previous involvement with the family, the organization has withheld further details, citing privacy issues.
Contradicting earlier reports that Samuels might have wandered off with the front door left open, Jackson is reported to have conceded that Hobson had critically assaulted her daughter weeks before. She also purportedly revealed that they had kept the girl’s body in bags inside their home, later discarding it outside, where it was discovered last week.
According to law enforcement, Jackson confessed to not giving her daughter the necessary help when Hobson was unable to revive her. Hobson, however, has refuted any role in Samuels’ death.
Jackson faces charges of child neglect, abuse of a corpse, and making false statements, while Hobson has been charged with making false statements. They are both being held without bail, awaiting a court hearing scheduled for June 20.
