Thursday 30 June 2022 03:33 AM Grandma who fought for custody of slain seven-year-old Bronx girl speaks out trends now
The grandmother who fought fiercely to maintain custody of a seven-year-old girl who was killed last year has said that the girl never should have been placed in the care of her mother.
On Wednesday, Navasia Jones, 36, and her 17-year-old son Paul Fine Jr were charged with murdering Jone's seven-year-old daughter Julissia Batties in their Bronx apartment last August.
Julissia's paternal grandmother Yolanda Davis had taken care of the girl for most of her short life, and was locked in a bitter custody dispute with Jones, who regained custody of the child soon before her death, despite the girl's desperate pleas not to return.
'I fought hard all the time for my granddaughter,' Davis told reporters following the arrests. 'I fought many a day, I was attacked by case workers but I say today that I was glad there is justice.'
'I just thank god that I got justice for my granddaughter. She deserves that, she really deserves that, and God gave justice,' the grandmother added in an interview with DailyMail.com outside of the arraignment. 'I've been waiting for this day for 10 months.'
Julissia Batties, seven, died in the care of her mother and half-brother in the Bronx last August. After a 10-month investigation, the mom and brother are now charged with her murder
On Wednesday, Navasia Jones, 36, (left) and her 17-year-old son Paul Fine Jr (right) were charged with murdering Jone's seven-year-old daughter Julissia Batties
Fine Jr allegedly confessed to beating the girl all over her body, and was additionally charged with sexually assaulting the girl, his half-sister
Prosecutors say that Julissia was viciously beaten and abused over a period of two days while in the care of Jones and Fine Jr prior to her death on August 10, 2021.
Fine Jr allegedly confessed to beating the girl all over her body, and was additionally charged with sexually assaulting the girl, his half-sister.
After seeing the teen being escorted into court in cuffs, Julissia's father Julius Batties told DailyMail.com: 'I want him put away for what he's done.'
'This is a revolting, disturbing case of brutality and callousness,' said Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark.
'The investigation revealed that Julissia was failed throughout her brief life. The signs of her torment were there but not acted on,' the DA added.
'We send our condolences to Julissia's father and grandmother, who remain devastated by the loss of this beautiful, little girl.'
At a press conference, Clark revealed sickening details of the investigation.
According to the investigation, Julissia lay suffering and dying for three hours before her mother finally called 911 at 8.06am on August 10, 2021, after being urged by a family member to do so.
When first responders arrived, Julissia had no pulse and no vital signs. The child was taken to Lincoln Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Julissia's grandmother Yolanda Davis (left) and father Julius Batties (right) spoke out praising the arrest of Jones and Fine Jr in the young girl's death
