BRONX WOMAN AND HER TEEN SON INDICTED IN MURDER OF HER 7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER JULISSIA BATTIES

 

Child Was Beaten and Sexually Abused; Defendants Failed to Seek Medical Attention

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx woman and her 17- year-old son have been indicted on Murder, Manslaughter and additional charges in the August 2021 death of her seven-year-old daughter, Julissia Batties.

 District Attorney Clark said, “A woman and her teenage son caused the death of her innocent, defenseless seven-year-old daughter, Julissia, in their Bronx home. The child was beaten and sexually abused and denied medical attention. This is a revolting, disturbing case of brutality and callousness. A 10-month investigation with the NYPD led to the indictments charging the defendants with Murder. The investigation revealed that Julissia was failed throughout her brief life. The signs of her torment were there but not acted on. We send our condolences to Julissia’s father and grandmother, who remain devastated by the loss of this beautiful, little girl.”

 District Attorney Clark said the defendants, Navasia Jones, 36, last of Brooklyn N.Y., and Paul Fine Jr., 18, of Brooklyn, N.Y., were arraigned today on an indictment charging two counts of second-degree Murder, under circumstances evincing a depraved indifference to human life, two counts of second-degree Manslaughter, three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Fine Jr. was additionally charged with first-degree Assault, and first-degree Sexual Abuse. The defendants were arraigned before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Marsha Michael. They were remanded and Jones is due back in court on September 12, 2022, and Fine Jr. on July 5, 2022.

 Between August 8, 2021 and August 10, 2021, Julissia Batties, 7, was beaten and died while in the care of her mother and half-brother in their apartment in 175 Alexander Avenue. According to the investigation, Jones called 911 at 8:06 a.m. on August 10, 2021, after being urged by a family member to do so. When first responders arrived, Julissia had no pulse and no vital signs. The child was taken to Lincoln Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

 After her death, the defendants told police Julissia had fallen down and was vomiting and urinating on herself at about 5:00 a.m. They also said the child fell against various items in the apartment or on the floor. Those statements were inconsistent with the fatal and nonfatal injuries on Julissia’s body.

 Fine Jr. later confessed to ACS that he had assaulted the child all over her body between August 8 and August 10, 2021, and admitted to punching Julissia multiple times on the day of her death.

 The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the child died by homicide caused by blunt force trauma to her abdomen. Examiners concluded she was struck with enough force to cause her internal organs to tear and bleed, filling her abdomen with blood. Examiners also found multiple bruises visible about the child’s entire face, chin, and back of right ear. The Medical Examiner determined the bruises on Julissia’s face are consistent with pattern bruising, likely caused by a fist or hand. There were additional injuries, visible bruises, marks, and scratches on Julissia’s body, including on both wrists, her clavicle, upper thigh and mouth.

 According to the investigation, Fine Jr. allegedly sexually abused Julissia. The child had injuries that were consistent with sexual assault. Those injuries were inflicted after Julissia had already begun to experience symptoms caused by the assaults to her abdomen.

 District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Jeff Grater of the 40th Precinct and Detective Colin Higgins of Bronx Homicide for their work in the investigation. 

 An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.