The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 21-year-old Asia Rosier and Jumar Edwards, 2706 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Way, Sarasota, for felony Child Neglect following the death of Rosier’s three-year-old daughter.
On April 11, 2013, a family friend called 9-1-1 after seeing Jewel Howard in medical distress. The child was pronounced dead and an autopsy performed the following day determined blunt force trauma to the child’s abdomen caused a lacerated/crushed liver, other massive internal injuries, and a vast amount of internal bleeding, leading to her death. Jewel also had two posterior broken ribs and other bruises on her body that the medical examiner said were not related to lifesaving efforts.
The investigation determined that the injuries inflicted upon Jewel occurred while she was solely in the care of her mother, Asia Rosier, and Jumar Edwards. They are currently being held without bond.
Both have criminal histories: five of Rosier’s prior arrests are for violence including Aggravated Battery Causing Bodily Harm and Edwards’ two most recent arrests are for Battery.