In a case that drew significant attention in the Atlanta area, two-year-old Laila Marie Daniel, a female, died in November 2015 while in the foster care of Jennifer and Joseph Rosenbaum in Henry County. The case began when Jennifer Rosenbaum, a former law student and onetime candidate for Henry County Commissioner, called 911 to report that Laila was choking on a piece of chicken.
However, the subsequent medical examination told a different story.
An autopsy revealed that Laila had not choked, but had died from blunt force trauma to her abdomen. The force of the blow had transected her pancreas, and she had also suffered other injuries, including broken bones. The medical examiner ruled her death a homicide. Investigators also found evidence of prior abuse, including extensive bruising.
Following an investigation, a grand jury indicted both Jennifer and Joseph Rosenbaum on charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, and first-degree child cruelty. The case against the Rosenbaums revealed that state caseworkers had missed several signs of abuse. During the trial, the prosecution argued that the Rosenbaums had systematically abused Laila. The defense maintained that Laila's injuries were the result of Jennifer Rosenbaum's frantic attempts to perform CPR and the Heimlich maneuver after she believed the child was choking.
In August 2019, a jury convicted both Jennifer and Joseph Rosenbaum. Jennifer Rosenbaum was found guilty of felony murder, among other charges, and was sentenced to life in prison plus 40 years. Joseph Rosenbaum was convicted of second-degree murder for his role in Laila's death and was sentenced to 30 years in prison followed by 20 years of probation.
