Janiya Thomas, age 10, was determined to be missing from the home of her mother, Keishanna Thomas, on October 16, 2015. Her body was located in a standalone freezer in the home of Thomas’s aunt and grandmother on October 18. Janiya last attended school in May 2013; Thomas subsequently pulled her out of school to homeschool her. When Janiya missed her yearly evaluation, Thomas told the school Janiya was staying with relatives out of state. Thomas’s other school-age children, ages 15, 12, and 9, attended public school. She also had a 2-year-old.
Janiya had a medical condition “that affected her digestion and bowel movements”, a condition which had killed her father. A probable cause affidavit stated that Thomas had hit Janiya and kept her locked in a bathroom.
Janiya’s death came to light after her 12-year-old brother was caught shoplifting September 23. As punishment, Thomas punched and slapped him; he climbed out a window and reported the abuse to the authorities. Child protective services realized Janiya was missing when they arrived at Thomas’s residence to remove the children. Thomas was charged with contempt and aggravated child abuse. Authorities have not yet determined the time and cause of Janiya’s death and the investigation is ongoing.
Date: October 16, 2015
Location: Bradenton, Florida
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