BRONX MOTHER SENTENCED TO 17 YEARS IN PRISON FOR FATALLY BEATING 7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER JULISSIA BATTIES

 

Victim Suffered Internal Bleeding; Had Bruises and Scratches All Over Body

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a Bronx woman was sentenced to 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree Manslaughter for beating her daughter to death. 

District Attorney Clark said, “Julissia was a defenseless seven-year-old girl, whose own mother took her life in a disturbing act of brutality and callousness. No child should be exposed to such torment or suffer the unimaginable terror Julissia faced at such a young age.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Navasia Jones, 39, of 175 Alexander Avenue, Bronx, was sentenced today to 17 years in prison and five years post-release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Joseph McCormack. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree Manslaughter on March 12, 2025. The promised sentence was 15 years in prison, but Justice McCormack enhanced her sentence by two years due to Jones’ refusal to come to court for sentence and outbursts on the last court date in which she minimized her guilt, violating the conditions of the plea. 

Between August 8, 2021, and August 10, 2021, Julissia was beaten by her mother in their apartment. On August 10, 2021, at approximately 8 a.m., Jones called 911. When first responders arrived, Julissa had no vital signs and was later pronounced dead at NYC Health + Hospitals Lincoln. According to the investigation, Julissia had suffered assaults during that time period, causing internal injuries resulting in her death on August 10, 2021.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner found that Julissia 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 face and body. According to the investigation, the child also had injuries that were consistent with sexual assault.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Jeffrey Grater, formerly of the 40th Precinct Squad, the 40th Precinct Detective Squad, and Bronx Homicide for their work on the case.