STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. – A Henry County Commission candidate has been charged with murder in the death of a 2-year-old foster child.
According to records from the Henry County Sheriff's Office, Jennifer Rosenbaum is facing numerous charges connected to Laila Marie Daniel's death. Police charged Rosenbaum Friday night with murder, aggravated assault, two counts of cruelty to children in the first degree (causing excessive physical or mental pain) and second degree cruelty to children. Rosenbaum's husband, Joseph is charged with two counts of cruelty to children causing excessive physical or mental pain in first degree.
The charge stunned the Rosenbaums' next door neighbor, Craig Rozar. He said that he had seen the child playing in the Rosenbaums' yard and saw no evidence of trauma.
"I don't believe anything happened or they did anything wrong" Rozar said. "Let the justice system set it out. But I'd really be surprised if anything happened."
PHOTOS: Laila Marie Daniel
According to 11Alive's Rebecca Lindstrom, the child's mother and Jennifer Rosenbaum were foster children together. That's how the mother knew the girl and chose her to take temporary custody of her daughter.
Kellie Hatcher, a friend of the child's mother, said the arrests were a welcome development.
"She's an innocent child" Hatcher said Saturday. "She's two years old. What did she do to deserve that?"
Laila had lived with the Rosenbaums five months, according to the child's father. Hatcher says Laila's leg was broken at the foster home several weeks ago under mysterious circumstances. On Nov. 17, police were called to the Rosenbaums' home for another apparent injury. The child subsequently died.
Police have not released the cause of the child's death yet.
"This is a very active investigation and we are unable to make any public comments in reference to the specifics of the case at this time," said Henry County Police Capt. Joey Smith.
According to the Henry Daily Herald, Jennifer Rosenbaum is a U.S. Army National Guard veteran military police officer and law school student, and has announced her candidacy for Henry County Commission District 1.
Both are scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
