Los Angeles, Ca
Boy, 17, with autism accused in murder of 4-month-old girl at Claremont daycare
A man and a woman devastated by the murder of their 4-month-old daughter earlier this week at a Claremont daycare facility are speaking out and demanding answers.
On June 29, officers with the Claremont Police Department responded to the 1400 block of Lynoak Drive around 11:30 a.m. on reports of a medical emergency.
When they arrived, authorities said that they determined a juvenile had thrown the infant to the floor inside the residence.
The baby was initially taken to Pomona Valley Hospital before being transferred to Children’s Hospital of Orange County due to the severity of her injuries, police said.
The baby girl, now identified as Troy May Elaine Cohn, later succumbed to her injuries.
The suspect, who is not being identified because he is underage, was taken into custody at the scene and booked on suspicion of murder at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall. He has since been charged with murder by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The child’s parents, Jasmyne Cohn and Anthony Owens, believe daycare staff left their daughter unsupervised with the 17-year-old boy arrested in the case.
Cohn said she was at work when she received a call telling her to rush to Pomona Valley Hospital.
“My child had bruises all over her body. Her head was fractured,” she told KTLA’s Rachel Menitoff. “I lost my daughter due to the negligence of this daycare.”
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Troy May Elaine Cohn, 4 months old, of Pomona, was killed after allegedly being thrown to the ground by a 17-year-old boy with autism at a daycare in Claremont on June 29, 2026. (viewer image) -
The parents of a 4-month-old girl believe the owner of a daycare facility in Claremont, seen here, is responsible for their daughter’s death on June 29, 2026. (KTLA)
It is unclear why the teen, who has autism, was at the facility, which is intended for children 8 years old and younger. Cohn and Owens believe he may have been attending the daycare and was being supervised by the owner.
“She drops her off at daycare and then has to meet at the hospital because the baby has been harmed?” Andrea Holcomb, the infant’s grandmother, said. “How does that make sense?”
Baby Troy’s parents say they believe the daycare created a dangerous environment by allowing the teen to be in the presence of defenseless young children.
“He should not have been in a daycare with children,” Cohn said. “Not just my child, any child.”
Owens said he does not know why this happened but wants justice. Both parents say they believe the daycare should be shut down.
A GoFundMe has been organized to help Troy’s parents cover the cost of funeral and medical expenses, as well as the costs associated with seeking justice for their daughter.
The teen was arraigned Thursday and remains in custody in connection with the child’s death.