Harmonnie Jones, a premature infant born on May 30, 2022 with a twin brother, suffered a broken femur at approximately one month old that led to a child abuse investigation and removal from her parents by Indiana DCS. Despite no determination of who caused the fracture, the twins were returned to their parents around December 27, 2022. Twelve days later, on January 8, 2023, EMS was called to the family's apartment on Linwood Court in Indianapolis where Harmonnie was not breathing; she was pronounced dead at Riley Children's Hospital. An autopsy revealed she died from blunt force injuries to the torso, with reported fist marks on her body, and her death was ruled a homicide. Four adults—her mother, father, maternal aunt, and grandmother—were in the apartment at the time. Her mother, Jayda Styles, was later indicted by a grand jury for aggravated battery and ultimately pled guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in serious injury, receiving a five-year prison sentence.
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)
The vital record (INME_23_JM.pdf) lists the cause of death as "BLUNT FORCE INJURIES OF THE TORSO." The WTHR article states: "She was beaten to death" and the aunt reported "They said she had fist marks. Like it was bad, it was bad." The Fox59 article states the indictment claims Styles "did knowingly inflict injury that created a substantial risk of death, and it resulted in the death of a child." Doctors ruled the injuries were "non-accidental blunt force injuries."
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?
The Fox59 article identifies Jayda Styles as the biological mother, stating the victim was "her infant daughter." Styles was indicted for aggravated battery and subsequently pled guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in serious injury, receiving a 5-year prison sentence. The indictment states she "did knowingly inflict injury that created a substantial risk of death, and it resulted in the death of a child."
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?
The first WTHR article quotes Eriana saying: "She was getting her weight up from being premature," explicitly indicating Harmonnie was born prematurely.
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The second WTHR article states: "Last summer, Harmonnie's femur was broken — she was 1 month old." and "An IMPD report says parents didn't have 'a story as to how' it happened. Back then, IMPD investigated possible child abuse and presented the case to the prosecutor's office, which declined to pursue charges." The first WTHR article also confirms: "Back in July, police opened a child abuse investigation after Harmonnie's femur was broken." The broken bone prompted DCS to remove the children from the home, confirming formal child protection involvement prior to the fatal incident.
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Multiple news articles confirm Harmonnie had been in foster care following her broken femur but was returned to her parents before her death. The first WTHR article states: "In December 2022, Harmonnie and her brother were returned to their parents." and the second WTHR article confirms: "the state did remove Harmonnie and her twin brother from the home. The babies were returned to their parents in December. Twelve days later, Harmonnie died."
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 Fox59 article reports: "Jayda Styles was indicted by a Marion County grand jury on Friday on one count of aggravated battery, a Level 1 Felony" and "Styles was arrested on Friday in the 4400 block of Linwood Court." It further reports an update that "Jayda Styles pled guilty on Dec. 5, 2025, to one count of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious injury. Her aggravated battery charge was dismissed. Styles was then sentenced to five years in prison and three years of probation upon release."
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?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several significant systemic issues are documented across the sources. First, the Indiana Department of Child Services returned Harmonnie and her twin brother to their parents in late December 2022 despite a prior broken femur at approximately one month old that had prompted the children's removal. The second WTHR article notes: "Twelve days later, Harmonnie died." The first WTHR article quotes the aunt: "Me personally ... I don't feel like they should have got the kids back." Second, the prior broken femur case was declined by the prosecutor's office because there was "no clear evidence to determine who was responsible or how the child sustained the injury." Third, the case took unusually long to prosecute compared to peer cases—the second WTHR article found that "83%" of Marion County child fatality cases were filed within six months, but this case required a grand jury indictment much later. Fourth, the ultimate resolution was notably lenient: the mother, Jayda Styles, pled guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in serious injury (not death), the aggravated battery charge was dismissed, and she received only five years in prison for what was ruled a homicide of a 7-month-old beaten to death.
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