A San Jose mother and her husband appeared in court Tuesday to face multiple counts of child neglect in connection with the fatal asthma death of 8-year-old Aurora Williams.
Gabrielle Hanson and Jacob Randolph did not enter a plea during their court appearance at the Hall of Justice regarding the May incident.
According to court records, Aurora was in medical distress during her asthma attack for at least eight hours before the couple sought medical attention. She later died from a lack of oxygen to the brain, and the medical examiner ruled her death a homicide.
When investigators searched the couple’s home, they found six children living in squalor, court documents show. Authorities reported there was no inhaler at the residence and that Aurora’s respirator was unusable because it was filled with cockroaches.
“This little girl was filled with roaches, and there was also mold in the home, animal feces, and two parents who were not providing care or food for children,” said Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen.
Prosecutors have also filed charges against Hanson’s brother, Jonathan Hansen, who was living in the same home.
“We are also prosecuting Jonathan Hansen, Aurora’s uncle, and who was living in the same home, for sexually abusing and molesting one of Aurora’s siblings,” Rosen said.
In the wake of the case, the district attorney is calling on Santa Clara County to do more to protect children by increasing involvement across multiple agencies.
“This is a plan that would create a team of specialists who would work jointly to protect the most vulnerable like Aurora,” Rosen said.
