Infant’s Death Probed as Homicide

LONGVIEW — Longview police are investigating the February death of an infant as homicide. Four-month-old Ja’Kavieonna Elliott was pronounced dead at 12:49 the morning of Feb. 21, according to an autopsy released by Gregg County Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace B.H. Jameson. Jameson ordered the autopsy after the infant was brought to the hospital where she was pronounced dead following an unsuccessful attempt to revive the baby. The autopsy, conducted by forensic pathologist Robert Lyon at Forensic Medical of Texas in Tyler, noted the infant’s skull and ribs were fractured, and “healing rib fractures” were present at the time of her death.

The pathologist noted the baby girl weighed 13 pounds at 4 months of age. He described her as having been well-developed and well-nourished. He reported small scars on her nose and jaw and multiple injuries to her head. The autopsy also noted injuries to the child’s ribs. Longview police spokeswoman Kristie Brian said detectives are investigating the case as a homicide.