How Could You? Hall of Shame-Ayanna Ross case-Child Death

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Ocala, Florida, foster father Jesus Mata, 28, “has been convicted in the death of a foster baby[Ayanna Ross]”

“Jesus Mata was convicted Friday of aggravated manslaughter. He faces up to 30 years in prison.

Mata told detectives that he was playing with 1-year-old Ayanna Ross in February 2012. He said he was tossing the child up and catching her when she hit her head.

Mata said he shook her a few times to wake her up and then put her to bed.

A woman in the home later found Ayanna limp and barely breathing. The woman called 911, and the girl was taken to a hospital, where she died.”

Man guilty in foster baby’s death [WCTV 7/30/16 by AP]

2012 Articles

“A family friend was charged Friday in the death of an 11-month-old girl in Marion County.

Jesus Mata was arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child in the death of Ayanna Ross.

Mata told detecives [sic] he was caring for the child on Feb. 29 when she became fussy and he had trouble calming her.

That’s when he said he began throwing the child in the air. At some point, Ayanna fell to the floor, striking her head, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Mata admitted he shook the child to “snap her out of it,” a report said.

Then, he set her down to rest instead of seeking medical attention, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Mata and friend Shawna Parker eventually took the unresponsvie child to a local hospital, where doctors discovered she had a subdural hematoma.

Ayanna was transferred to Shands at the University of Florida, where she died March 2.

“An autopsy determined the cause of death to be blunt trauma and the manor of death was ruled homicide. Detectives determined Mata was responsible for Ayanna’s injuries,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a report.

He was being held in the Marion County Jail on a $50,000 bond.”

Man charged in death of 11-month-old girl [Orlando Sentinel 5/12/12 by Kevin P. Connolly]

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