How Could You? Hall of Shame-case-Jozi Woodall -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 St. Robert, Missouri, Alyssa Sierra Jackson “was charged on Thursday after a foster child who was in her care[Jozi Woodall]died and another was injured.”

She “was charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death, two counts of child abuse and a count of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child resulting in serious injuries. A court date has not been set.

The probable cause statement says she was arrested on Thursday. Jackson is being held on a $1 million bond. A mugshot was not immediately available. Jackson is described as the foster mother of the children in court documents.

According to the probable cause statement, deputies responded to a call of an unresponsive 2-year-old girl not breathing with CPR in progress on Tuesday in the 13000 block of Trinity Circle. The child was brought to multiple hospitals, including Mercy Hospital in Springfield, the statement says. Law enforcement was told the child died on Aug. 14, the statement says.

A 3-year-old child was taken from Jackson and placed with another foster family “due to the injuries and ongoing investigation involving” the 2-year-old, the statement says. Court documents say those foster parents took the child to St. Louis Children’s Hospital after learning about their injuries.

The 3-year-old had injuries to their spine that indicated abuse occurred, according to court documents. The child also was allegedly “malnourished, dehydrated” and had bruised eyes, among other injuries, the statement says.

Jackson was interviewed on Wednesday and deputies executed a search warrant at her residence, the statement says. She allegedly told law enforcement that she was the only person ever around the children, the statement says.

“While searching the residence for evidence the house was noted to be in disarray with human feces on the floor, walls, stained on mattresses’, dishes piled up in every sink to include the bathroom sinks, flies throughout the house with molded food on the floors and in the children’s bed, clothes piled on Jacksons bed to the ceiling, with a smell of mildew and mold,” court documents say.

The children’s room apparently “had a freshly cleaned and shampooed floor that was still slightly damp to touch,” the statement says.

The statement says medical records indicated the 2-year-old had “Severe hemorrhagic retina changes, disc and retina edema in both eyes. Findings are consistent with non-accidental trauma.”

When Jackson was interviewed by law enforcement again, she allegedly “gave various reasons for the injuries that still could not explain the injuries other than child abuse,” court documents say.

Jackson also has three of her own children, the statement says.”

Foster mother in Pulaski County charged after child dies

[ABC 17 8/16/24 by Ryan Shiner]

“In preliminary hearing 9:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 9, in Pulaski County, Alyssa Jackson, a St. Robert woman who faces multiple felony offenses in connection with the death of a 2-year-old girl, pleaded not guilty to all charges and her attorney filed a waiver of arraignment. She is set to be back in court 9 a.m. Sept. 24 before Judge William E. Hickle.

A grand jury indictment was filed immediately following the hearing, according to court documents.

Jackson, born 1998, is charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child – death of child; abuse or neglect of a child – resulting in death; abuse or neglect of a child – serious emotional or physical injury; and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child – serious physical injury.

Jackson is incarcerated in the Pulaski County Jail on a $1 million bond.

Judge Colin Long presided over the preliminary hearing, with prosecuting attorney Kevin Hillman representing the state.

Assistant public defender Brandon Swartz had been listed as representing Jackson, however, he withdrew from the case on Sept. 3. Her new representative, Charles Theodore Frahm, Parkville, filed as her attorney Sept. 2.

Frahm attended the hearing via video conference, as did Jackson, who appeared via video from the county jail.

Jackson listed as child’s foster parent

A deputy with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department responded Aug. 13 to a report of an unconscious child in the 13000 block of Trinity Circle, St. Robert, according to the case’s probable cause statement.

Upon arrival, Jackson was identified as the child’s foster parent. The statement says the child was sent to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Mercy Hospital in Springfield for treatment, where she was later pronounced dead. Another child was located, removed from Jackson’s care and sent to St. Louis Children’s Hospital for treatment.

During an interview Jackson is quoted in the statement as saying she was the only person around the children, they never left her sight and she never left them alone. A search of Jackson’s residence found clothes piled to the ceiling, mold on the children’s beds, dishes piled in all the home’s sinks and human feces on the floor, walls and soiling a mattress, according to the probable cause statement.

According to the probable cause statement, Medical staff at Mercy Springfield told authorities the diagnosis for the deceased child was, “severe hemorrhagic retina changes, disc and retina edema in both eyes. Findings are consistent with non-accidental trauma.”

Medical staff at St. Louis Children’s Hospital reported another child was malnourished and dehydrated with facial bruises and marks that appeared to be caused by a slap. Testing also found a bilateral subdural hematoma in the process of healing as well as multiple compression fractures to the spine.

During a follow up interview, the statement says Jackson offered various reasons for the children’s trauma that could not explain the injuries. When the medical findings were reported to Jackson the statement says she requested an attorney. The statement concludes by stating Jackson has three more children she said were autistic.”

St Robert woman pleads not guilty to charges in death 2-year-old

[Phelps County Focus 9/9/24 by Allison Skinner]

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