Prosecutors on March 3 filed a second-degree murder charge against the 32-year-old man accused of fatally beating a 3-year-old girl on Feb. 19 in Citra. The man previously had been held on a charge of aggravated child abuse.
Could the charge change again? It’s possible. The arraignment hearing is set for March 24. At that time, the state could announce a change.
Because there is a new charge,, the defendant, Jeroen Coombs, had another first appearance hearing on March 4. County Judge Tommy Thompson said Coombs will continue to be held without bail at the Marion County Jail.
Prosecutors said the change in charge came as a result of the continuing investigation.
The defendant’s lawyer is David Duclos from the Public Defender’s Office.
On Feb. 19, sheriff’s deputies were called to an address in Citra to assist county fire officials with an incident. Paisley Brown, 3, was taken to a local hospital because she was unresponsive. She later died at the facility.
According to a sheriff’s office arrest affidavit, Coombs told investigators he bound and struck the child. Deputies are investigating other allegations of child abuse.
With Coombs being charged with second-degree murder, Paisley’s death is now officially considered a domestic violence murder.
Local officials said anyone who suspects domestic violence can call CASA Marion at (352) 722-2272. In 2025, the sheriff’s office handled 2,392 domestic violence cases. That included three cases classified as domestic violence homicides.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Murder charge lodged against man accused of killing child, age 3
Reporting by Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner / Ocala Star-Banner
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
