Parents charged after 8-year-old girl living in ‘squalid’ home dies from asthma attack

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) – The mother and stepfather of an 8-year-old California girl who suffered a fatal asthma attack are facing charges after her death was ruled a homicide.

Gabrielle Hanson, 32, and Jacob Randolph, 39, the mother and stepfather of 8-year-old Aurora Williams, made their first court appearance Tuesday. Prosecutors charged the couple with felony child neglect in connection with Aurora’s death following a severe asthma attack in May.

The Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office says Aurora was in serious distress for eight hours before her parents sought medical help. She was eventually taken to the hospital but died four days later.

“Why does this keep happening? This little asthmatic girl and her brothers and sisters were living in a home filled with roaches, mold, animal feces and two parents who were not providing enough care or food for their children,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said.

Rosen says the family’s San Jose home was “squalid,” infested with cockroaches and mold and littered with garbage and pet feces. Thirteen people, seven of whom were children, and at least eight animals lived there.

Rosen says Aurora’s cause of death was lack of oxygen from severe asthma with lung injury and an infection. He says medical neglect was a significant factor in her death, which was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner.

“When she was finally brought to a hospital, staff found that she was below 1% of her expected body weight and had roaches on her emaciated body. Do you know what Aurora’s answer was when the hospital staff asked her about the vermin? The little girl said, ‘Oh yeah, bugs just crawl on me,’” Rosen said.

Authorities say the home was later deemed unlivable after conditions there contributed to Aurora’s death. The six other children in the household, ages 2 months to 17 years, were placed in foster care.

The Santa Clara County Department of Family and Children’s Services had frequent involvement with the family. In a statement, spokesperson Peter Gallota said the county was aware of the charges but could not comment further because the matter is ongoing litigation.

Rosen is now criticizing the county’s child welfare system and calling for reforms. He says his office will form a team to examine issues within the welfare system.

“Somewhere in our county right now, there are children who are in danger. Can we help them? I believe that we can. I believe that we must,” Rosen said.

Hanson and Randolph are scheduled to return to court Nov. 20.