Veronica, a 4-year-old girl, was brought to Bristol Hospital on June 17, 2022 with a critical head injury by her mother Ashley and stepfather Rocky Hernandez-DeJesus, transferred to Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, and died on June 18, 2022 after being taken off a ventilator following an anoxic brain injury. The couple claimed she fell from playground equipment at Norton Park in Plainville, but investigators and the medical examiner found this implausible. The autopsy revealed five to six head injuries inconsistent with a single fall, as well as ligature marks on her wrists and ankles, patterned bruising, scarring, and signs of malnutrition indicating long-term abuse. Evidence suggested the couple coordinated a cover story. The death was ruled a homicide from 'fatal child abuse syndrome,' and both caregivers were arrested.
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 Courant reports investigators believed "the injuries inflicted on the girl were done so in a 'deliberate and violent manner'" and an autopsy "found she had five to six head injuries that could not have been caused by a single fall." Cause of death was ruled "fatal child abuse syndrome with blunt injuries of head, torso and extremities" (ctinsider).
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
The ctinsider article states the medical examiner "said the girl showed signs of malnutrition and had not grown in some 11 months," and the wwnytv article describes the child as "extremely frail and thin." The Courant lists "signs of malnutrition" as evidence of long-term abuse.
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The ctinsider article reports the medical examiner found the girl "showed signs of malnutrition and had not grown in some 11 months," and the Courant notes "signs of malnutrition" supporting long-term abuse, indicating failure to provide adequate care/medical attention over an extended period.
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?
While the specific terms "shaken baby" are not used, the autopsy found "five to six head injuries that could not have been caused by a single fall" inflicted in a "deliberate and violent manner" (Courant), and the child suffered an "anoxic brain injury" (wwnytv), consistent with inflicted/abusive head trauma rather than accidental injury.
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Multiple documents describe sustained, deliberate cruelty beyond ordinary abuse: "ligature marks on the child's wrists and ankles, as well as signs of restraint" (NBC), a former landlord who "saw the girl restrained in a highchair, able to move only her head" (ctinsider), and the Courant noting injuries inflicted in a "deliberate and violent manner" with "scars, bruising, ligature marks and signs of malnutrition, supported evidence of long-term abuse."
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?
Ashley Hernandez-DeJesus, the girl's mother, was charged and "took a plea deal in May 2025, pleading guilty to a single count of first-degree manslaughter and two counts of risk of injury to a minor" and "was sentenced... to 20 years in prison" (Courant). The child lived "with her mother and stepfather."
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)?
The Courant identifies Rocky Hernandez-DeJesus as the "stepfather" who is charged with murder; the child was "living in an apartment in Bristol with her mother and stepfather." He was arrested in connection with her death.
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)?
NBC reports "there have been 13 Department of Children and Families (DCF) reports regarding this family since 2012" including "four substantiated claims of abuse or neglect," and DCF said reports were "for Veronica's siblings."
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
The wwnytv article reports that the children "were given to a relative" and "the little girl was born, and she was also taken away. However, in 2019, the little girl was reunited." NBC notes Veronica "was born a few months later" and was "placed with a relative," then the case closed in Oct. 2019 — indicating a prior out-of-home/kinship placement before she returned to her parents.
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 Courant reports "Rocky Hernandez-DeJesus along with his wife, Ashley Hernandez-DeJesus, were arrested in December 2022 in connection with the death of the 4-year-old girl," and prosecutors later pursued murder and conspiracy charges against Rocky.
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
The case features notable legal developments: per the Courant, prosecutors brought murder and conspiracy-to-commit-murder charges against the stepfather only "after the plea deal" of the mother, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 20 years; a judge found probable cause for felony murder despite defense objections. There are also potential systemic/policy issues: NBC reports "13 Department of Children and Families (DCF) reports regarding this family since 2012" with "four substantiated claims," yet DCF stated it "never received a report specifically about her" even though children had previously been removed and Veronica reunited before the case closed in 2019.
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