Jury selection began Monday afternoon for the former Henry County foster parents accused in the 2015 death of a 2-year-old in their home.
Jennifer Rosenbaum called 911 on Nov. 17, 2015, claiming Laila Marie Daniel choked while eating chicken. Rosenbaum said she used the Heimlich maneuver and then CPR on Laila, who later died.
ALSO: Court suppresses evidence seized in foster child murder case
But paramedics noted bruising on Laila’s body. And an autopsy revealed the child suffered a blow to her abdomen that ruptured her pancreas. She also had other internal injuries and broken bones suffered over time, according to GBI medical examiners. There was no evidence she had choked, the autopsy revealed.
Two weeks after Laila’s death, Jennifer and her husband, Joseph, were both arrested and charged in the child’s death.
Jennifer Rosenbaum faces malice and felony murder charges, as well as child cruelty, aggravated assault and aggravated battery. Joseph Rosenbaum, a former correctional officer in Spalding County, is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly leaving Laila in his wife’s care when he knew she was abusing the child. Both have pleaded not guilty and are out on bond.
Jennifer Rosenbaum, a candidate for the Henry County Commission at the time of her arrest, once worked as an intern in the Henry County District Attorney’s Office. For this reason, the Henry DA’s Office recused itself from the case. Assistant district attorneys from DeKalb County are now prosecuting the case.
In March, the Georgia Supreme Court tossed out some evidence against the Rosenbaums. The justices ruled that information found in electronic devices owned by the couple cannot be used against them because law enforcement waited too long to obtain warrants to search the devices.
After seizing various electronic devices belonging to the Rosenbaums at the time of their arrests, investigators waited until May 26, 2017, to obtain search warrants and review potential evidence.
Jury selection will continue Tuesday morning.
About the Author
