Teenager Charged with Murder for Killing His 2-year-old Foster Brother

A teenager from California has been charged with murder and assault in the killing of his 2-year-old foster brother, using a hair tie. The child had been placed with the family weeks earlier. The child had been placed in the care of the teenager’s mother, who has a prior child endangerment conviction.

The 18-year-old charged with murder in the killing of his 2-year-old foster brother was a minor at the time of the April 5 incident. He faces several felony charges, including murder, sexual assault and felony assault with a hair tie, in connection with the death of Jaxon Juarez, who was also known as Baby Jaxon.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office has not publicly revealed the teenager’s identity, as he is currently being charged in juvenile court. However, the district attorney’s office is seeking to transfer the case to adult court, according to a press release.

“San Jose Police Department found baby Jaxon Juarez’s small, bruised and battered body on April 5, 2026,” the press release from the district attorney’s office said. “Evidence showed that the child, who is also the cousin of the suspect, had been repeatedly s--ually and physically abused since he was placed in the foster family home in February.”

Jeff Rosen, speaking to reporters, said the victim was found in his crib with a ponytail holder around his neck, which led to the “assault with a hair tie” charge. He described the murder as “terrible and horrific,” with the victim suffering several traumatic injuries that led to his hospitalization and placement on life support. Jaxon, according to the district attorney’s office, died on April 9 after being placed on life support.

“We are left with broken hearts and serious questions about who was watching out for the safety of these extremely vulnerable children,” Jeff Rosen said in a press release. Jaxon Juarez was the third foster child since 2023 to be killed while in the care and custody of California Department of Family and Children Services, according to Rosen.

According to local officials, Jaxon was placed in the care of Bridget Michelle Martinez, who is the mother of the teenager accused of killing him. Jaxon was placed in her care despite Martinez having a felony conviction for child endangerment. Jaxon’s biological father is allegedly Martinez’s cousin.

“It is completely unacceptable,” said Riley Wallace, Jaxon’s aunt, who lives in Arizona, in an interview regarding Jaxon being placed by the DCFS. “They did not protect a child, and that’s their job. That’s what they took the child for, protecting him. And they failed him so terribly,” Wallace said.

Wallace said that Jaxon’s mother passed away in 2025, due to alcohol abuse, which prompted the aunt to take custody of him. He initially lived with another family and then with his maternal grandfather in Sacramento for six months before being placed in the care of Martina Wallace. Wallace mentioned in his interview with KQED that he wanted to take the child with him, but the county did not allow it because of the distance.