Philadelphia

Caretaker Faces Abuse of Corpse Charges in Death of Philly 2-Year-Old

Sources told NBC10 Nesmith is the girlfriend of the boy's mother.

A woman remained behind bars a week after a 2-year-old boy she cared for was found dead in a Philadelphia home.

Officers found Azim Jones-Fearon's naked and emaciated body on a bed inside a home on the 7100 block of N 15th Street Wednesday evening.

Medics pronounced Azim dead at the scene.

On Tuesday, police announced child endangerment, reckless endangerment and abuse of a corpse charges against Jedayah Nesmith -- the boy's 22-year-old caretaker. A judge arraigned Nesmith Friday and sent her to jail in lieu of $750,000 bail. Sources told NBC10 Nesmith is the girlfriend of the boy's mother.

A man who wished to remain anonymous told NBC10 he tipped police off about Nesmith. The man claims Nesmith offered him $1000 to dispose of the child's body.

"[She said]'You gotta get rid of something. It's the size of a loaf of bread.' I'm like, 'What you mean? It's a baby?' [She said] 'Yeah.' [I asked] 'Whose baby is it?' [She said] 'Don't worry about all that,'" the man said.

Jedayah Nesmith Azim Feron Jones Death
Philadelphia Police
Jedayah Nesmith faces charges in relation to 2-year-old Azim Jones-Fearon's death.

It was not known if anyone else could face charges in Azim's death. The boy was initially said to be 3 years old but later police revised his age to 2.

The cause of death was pending an autopsy Tuesday as homicide detectives continued their investigation.

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