JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two people are facing charges in connection with the death of a 1-year-old Jacksonville boy, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said.
Investigators identified the two as Tracorvis Strickland, 39, and Cornelia Roberts, 21.
A family member identified the child as Elijah Jackson and shared photos of Elijah with News4JAX from the family’s Christmas together, shortly after Elijah turned 1 year old in November.
Elijah’s grandmother, who asked not to be named, said Roberts is the child’s mother.
“When he saw you, he just started smiling. He was a happy baby,” the grandmother said.
JSO began investigating the case on April 9 when the baby was taken to UF Health and then Wolfson Children’s Hospital with multiple severe injuries, according to an arrest report. Elijah died several days after being admitted. (NOTE: An initial release from JSO said the baby died four days later, but the arrest reports indicate he was admitted on Sunday and died Tuesday.)
Based on Elijah’s injuries, detectives with the Special Assault Unit (SAU) were called to the hospital.
His grandmother described what it was like seeing him in the ICU last week after not seeing him since February. (NOTE: The rest of this article includes details that some might find disturbing.)
“When I saw my grandbaby, I just screamed,” she said. “I just couldn’t believe what I saw. My grandbaby was like laying there just lifeless. It hurt me to my heart so bad.”
She said Roberts, the boy’s mother, didn’t say anything to her at the hospital. The grandmother said she doesn’t know how well Roberts knows Strickland, but he is not the boy’s father.
According to an arrest report, Roberts was at a brunch with friends on April 9 when she received a phone call from Strickland saying that the baby had vomited and stopped breathing.
Strickland told police he laid the child down for a nap with another person and when he went to check on them, he found the baby choking, vomiting and limp.
Strickland called 911 and started performing CPR, then Elijah was taken to the hospital, according to the report.
“He went into a cardiac arrest. That just like blew me away,” the grandmother said. “They should say, ‘Well, he got internal injuries, he had bleeding on the brain, he had four broken ribs, bruises from head to toe, a broken foot. And she also stated that one of his vertebrae on his spine was cleared or chipped.”
Elijah died last Tuesday and his death was ruled a homicide.
By Friday, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office issued a warrant for Strickland for second-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. He was picked up the next day.
Roberts was interviewed by police on Monday and was charged with aggravated manslaughter.
News4JAX heard from Roberts’ parents. Sharon Roberts married Cornelia’s father, Cornelious, who she said has been grieving uncontrollably.
“Cornelia would never do that. She loved her baby and has been devastated,” Sharon Roberts said. “She didn’t make the best choices with boyfriends.”
Sharon Roberts said she last saw Elijah in March over Facetime. She said he was fine -- walking and calling her “Nana.” She said Cornelia showed police pictures of Elijah from the day before he was taken to the hospital, and he was fine there as well.
Sharon Roberts questions the timeline of Elijah’s injuries. The Department of Children and Families showed her pictures of his wounds that she said looked fresh.
She said she has only ever seen Strickland once and “didn’t like what I saw.”
Sharon Roberts’ family is trying to retain an attorney. She said she’s not defending Cornelia but thinks the facts aren’t adding up. She ultimately places blame on Strickland, who she pointed out has a history of domestic violence, while Cornelia has no criminal record and just passed a test to join the Marines.
She feels the police are accusing Cornelia of knowing about her son’s abuse and not doing anything about it.
Family videos show Elijah was clearly loved.
His paternal grandmother said his future was taken away far too soon and she misses him dearly.
“The only thing I could think of was, ‘Oh, I just can’t wait. I want to do this. I want to do that. I’m going to get this for my grandbaby,’” she said. “And all that’s gone now.”
At the request of the family, News4JAX is not disclosing the status of the child’s father.
The grandmother said she spoke with her son last Tuesday, and he said he felt that something wasn’t right.
They couldn’t imagine that it would be this.