3-Year-Old Found Dead After Mom’s Boyfriend Allegedly Tied Her Up

🔥 DON’T MISS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT — SCROLL ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM TO WATCH THE FULL BODYCAM FOOTAGE! 🔥

1. A ROUTINE DAY ENDS WITH A CHILD FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE

On February 19, 2026, deputies were called to a home in Citra, Florida, after receiving a report that a 3-year-old girl was unresponsive.

The child, later identified as Paisley Brown, was rushed to a nearby hospital. She ultimately died from her injuries.

Investigators quickly focused on her mother's boyfriend, Jeroen Jarrel Coombs, who had been caring for Paisley and four other children that day. (WFTV)

2. THE MAN LEFT IN CHARGE OF FIVE CHILDREN

According to investigators, Paisley's mother had left the home to run errands, leaving Coombs responsible for five children ranging in age from 1 to 9.

At first, the situation appeared to be an emergency involving an unresponsive child.

But as detectives began asking questions, the story surrounding what happened inside the home became far more disturbing.

Authorities said Coombs was considered the primary caretaker of the children in the residence. (wesh.com)

3. DEPUTIES ARRIVE — AND THE INVESTIGATION BEGINS

When deputies arrived, Paisley was transported for emergency medical treatment.

Meanwhile, investigators began working to determine exactly what had happened before their arrival.

The initial case was filed as aggravated child abuse.

But detectives continued gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses and examining what happened inside the home. (WFTV)

And before long, investigators said Coombs had given them a version of events that would dramatically change the case.

4. INVESTIGATORS SAY HE ADMITTED RESTRAINING PAISLEY

According to court records and reporting based on the arrest affidavit, Coombs told investigators that he restrained Paisley's wrists with rope and used tape on her legs.

He also allegedly admitted to dropping and striking the child multiple times.

The allegations became the foundation of the prosecution's case as investigators moved from a child-abuse investigation toward a homicide investigation. (https://www.wcjb.com)

5. THEN THE CASE TURNED INTO A MURDER INVESTIGATION

After Paisley's death, prosecutors eventually upgraded the case.

In March, Coombs was charged with second-degree murder. Later that month, a grand jury indicted him on first-degree felony murder, along with multiple child-abuse charges involving Paisley and allegations involving other children in the home. (sao5.org)

The case was no longer simply about what happened to a child.

Prosecutors were now alleging that Paisley's death occurred while Coombs was committing another felony.

6. THE 40-MINUTE DELAY RAISED MORE QUESTIONS

Another major part of the investigation concerned the time between when Paisley's mother learned that her daughter was unresponsive and when 911 was called.

According to investigators cited by WESH and FOX 13, Paisley's mother was told the child was unresponsive around 11 a.m., while the emergency call came roughly 40 minutes later. (wesh.com)

That delay became an important part of the investigation.

And it eventually led to criminal charges against Paisley's mother as well.

7. PAISLEY’S MOTHER ALSO FACED CRIMINAL CHARGES

Jennifer Kendrick, Paisley's mother, was later charged with aggravated manslaughter as well as child-neglect charges.

She has pleaded not guilty, and her attorneys have indicated she intends to pursue an insanity defense. (wesh.com)

In May, a Marion County judge ruled that Kendrick and Coombs would remain on the same trial docket, although the judge left open the possibility of separating the cases later. (https://www.wcjb.com)

8. THEN PROSECUTORS ADDED ANOTHER CAPITAL CHARGE

In April, prosecutors filed a superseding indictment adding a charge of capital sexual battery involving a child under 12. The alleged victim's identity was withheld from public records. (wesh.com)

That new charge dramatically changed the potential consequences of the case.

On April 22, the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office announced that prosecutors intended to seek the death penalty on both the first-degree murder and capital sexual battery charges. (sao5.org)

9. THE COMMUNITY DEMANDED ANSWERS

In the days following Paisley's death, members of the local community gathered to remember the little girl and demand accountability.

A vigil was later held in Ocala, where candles, flowers and signs were displayed in Paisley's memory.

The case continued to draw attention as prosecutors expanded the charges and the investigation moved toward trial. (WFTV)

10. NOW THE CASE IS HEADING TOWARD A DEATH-PENALTY TRIAL

Coombs has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody without bond.

The latest publicly reported proceedings show that the prosecution is moving forward with first-degree murder and capital sexual battery charges, with prosecutors formally seeking the death penalty on both counts. (sao5.org)

The allegations remain allegations unless and until proven in court.

But the bodycam footage from February 19 captures the beginning of the investigation — before the murder indictment, before the additional capital charge, and before prosecutors announced their decision to seek the ultimate penalty.

WHAT OFFICERS SAW THAT DAY WOULD BECOME THE START OF A CASE THAT IS STILL UNFOLDING.