FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Charges were filed Monday against Jenna Miller, 36, the biological mother of Elijah Ross, the 9-year-old boy who was beaten to death on December 18 off Putnam Street.
Miller is facing two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in death and two counts of neglect of a dependent that endangers the child.
According to court documents, Alesha Miller, Elijah’s stepmother was charged Wednesday, Dec. 22, with aggravated battery resulting in death and neglect of a dependent resulting in death with two more counts of neglect of a dependent.
Officials say she and Jenna brought the boy to the ER a the Lutheran Downtown Hospital and that lifesaving measures were unsuccessful.
Their arrests came as the coroner released the following – ruling the boy’s death a homicide as a result of blunt force trauma:
After further investigation regarding the death of Elijah Thomas Ross, male, black, 9 years of age, from Fort Wayne, Indiana, it has been determined the Cause of Death is Blunt Force Injuries of Head and the Manner of Death is Homicide.
Elijah Thomas Ross is the 46th homicide for Fort Wayne and Allen County in 2021.
This incident remains under investigation by the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Allen County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Allen County Coroner’s Office.