On February 10, 2022, 10-year-old Jada Clay was found deceased in her home near 44th and Hampton in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. According to prosecutors, her mother, Henrietta Rogers, strangled Jada following an argument over hair braids that had been ongoing the night before and the morning of her death. The Medical Examiner's Office reported the child suffered blunt force trauma and determined the death to be non-accidental. Rogers was charged with first-degree intentional homicide but was ultimately found guilty by a Milwaukee County jury of first-degree reckless homicide. Jada's 15-year-old sibling was deemed unsafe and placed with a relative following the incident.
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 WISN news article states that "Henrietta Rogers strangled 10-year-old Jada Clay in February 2022." The TMJ4 news article reports that "she suffered blunt force trauma and died." The fatality report substantiates "maltreatment of physical abuse to the child by the mother." These descriptions clearly indicate inflicted injuries including strangulation and blunt force trauma.
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 fatality report states the child's mother was charged with 1st Degree Reckless Homicide and the agency "found a preponderance of the evidence to substantiate maltreatment of physical abuse to the child by the mother." The WISN article confirms "Henrietta Rogers strangled 10-year-old Jada Clay." The child resided with her biological mother at the time of the incident.
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)?
The fatality report documents multiple prior CPS reports: "On June 20, 2018, the agency screened-in a CPS Report alleging neglect to the child and her now 15-year-old sibling by the father. An assessment was completed by the agency, and the allegation of neglect was unsubstantiated." Additionally, "On December 11, 2021, the agency screened-out a CPS Report" and "On March 26, 2013, the agency screened-out a CPS Report."
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 fatality report states "the child's mother was criminally charged with 1st Degree Reckless Homicide." The WISN article confirms "the jury found her guilty of first-degree reckless homicide." The TMJ4 article notes a person was "held on suspicion of physical abuse of a child causing death."
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 WISN article reports that the fatal incident was triggered by "an argument over hair braids," providing unusual context about the precipitating event. Additionally, the mother was originally "charged with first-degree intentional homicide, but the jury found her guilty of first-degree reckless homicide," indicating a notable downgrade in the conviction. The TMJ4 article also notes that another student from the same school, Samuel Clemens, was killed less than a month prior, highlighting a pattern of child homicides affecting the same school community in a short time span.
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