On the morning of December 23, 2022, the father of 5-year-old Justice Alma A. and 1-year-old Paragon Maya A. returned to the family's apartment on Navy Road in the Bayview neighborhood of San Francisco. After reportedly knocking on the door for 15 minutes, he entered and found the apartment in disarray. Their mother, Paulesha Alma Green-Pulliam (34), allegedly prevented him from searching for the children. He ultimately found both girls' bodies in a walk-in closet, seated on a bench, with white foam coming from one girl's mouth. He called 911 while hysterically crying. Officers arrived at approximately 7:37 a.m. and both children were pronounced dead on scene. Green-Pulliam was quickly arrested and charged with two counts of murder with special circumstances (multiple murder), with prosecutors alleging planning, sophistication, and great violence as aggravating factors. The cause of death was not publicly disclosed. Court documents reportedly indicate that Green-Pulliam admitted the crime to police. She pleaded not guilty and, if convicted, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Multiple sources identify Green-Pulliam as the children's mother. The KTVU article (Document 3) states: "The San Francisco District Attorney on Wednesday charged a 34-year-old mother with the murder of her two little girls" and refers to them as "her daughters." The Mission Local article (Document 5) states: "The girls' mother, Paulesha Green-Pulliam, 34, has been charged with two counts of murder." However, the KRON4 article (Document 2) notes: "Investigators declined to confirm to KRON4 if Green-Pulliam was the girls' biological mother," introducing some ambiguity about whether she is the biological mother specifically. Certainty is set to implied due to this caveat.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The felony complaint (Document 1) charges Paulesha Alma Green-Pulliam with two counts of murder. The KTVU article (Document 4) states: "Police have arrested San Francisco resident and mother, Paulesha Alma Green-Pulliam, 34, for two counts of homicide." The KRON4 article (Document 2) confirms: "The San Francisco District Attorney's Office filed murder charges against Paulesha Alma Green-Pulliam."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
The Mission Local article (Document 5) states: "The Public Defender's Office, representing Green-Pulliam, requested on Dec. 30 that Green-Pulliam take medical and mental examinations before her next appearance." This is a direct reference to the parent/caregiver's mental health. Additionally, the memorial attendees and DA Jenkins discussed mental health in the context of the tragedy: "Residents and Jenkins wanted to make it clear that if anyone is experiencing a mental health issue they should reach out to those nearby to get some help." While the defense request for mental examination does not confirm a diagnosed mental health condition, it is a clear reference to the caregiver's mental health status.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details not covered by preceding questions are present. The Mission Local article (Document 5) reports that "court documents obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle Friday show Green-Pulliam allegedly admitted the crime to police." The same article describes the father's account in detail: "the father came home early in the morning on Dec. 23, and knocked on the door for 15 minutes. He noticed the children did not run down and police said the apartment was a mess. Green-Pulliam prevented him from searching for the children. He found the girls' bodies in the walk-in closet, sitting on a bench. White foam came from one of the girl's mouths." The white foam is a potentially significant forensic detail, and the children being found in a closet on a bench is an unusual circumstance. The felony complaint (Document 1) includes a multiple murder special circumstance allegation under PC 190.2(a)(3) and an aggravating circumstance alleging "planning, sophistication, or professionalism" under Rule 4.421(a)(8). Prosecutors did not publicly disclose the cause or manner of death: "Prosecutors have not made public how the girls died or the motive for their deaths" (Document 3).
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