TWO-YEAR-OLD LAILA DANIEL DIED MONTHS AFTER ENTERING FOSTER CARE — FOSTER MOTHER SENTENCED TO LIFE PLUS 40 YEARS

Two-year-old Laila Marie Daniel entered foster care with her four-year-old sister in 2015, after authorities placed the children with a foster family as they were supposed to receive care and stability.

Months later, Laila was dead.

Her death in Georgia led to a lengthy criminal investigation, a trial involving dozens of charges and a case that would eventually reach the state’s highest court.

LAILA’S FINAL DAY

On November 17, 2015, Jennifer Rosenbaum called 911 and reported that Laila was choking on a piece of chicken.

Emergency responders arrived at the home shortly before 6 p.m. and found the little girl unresponsive. Despite resuscitation efforts, Laila was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Rosenbaum told investigators that she had attempted to help Laila after believing she was choking.

But prosecutors presented medical evidence that told a very different story.

According to the Georgia Supreme Court’s record, Laila had extensive bruising and multiple injuries of different ages. She also had fractures, including an older fracture to her right tibia and a more recent fracture to her left arm.

Medical examiners found severe blunt-force injuries to her abdomen, including damage to her liver and pancreas that caused internal bleeding.

The court record states that the medical examiner concluded the injuries were inconsistent with resuscitation efforts and determined that Laila’s death was a homicide caused by multiple blunt-force injuries to her torso.

A CASE INVOLVING BOTH FOSTER CHILDREN

The investigation also uncovered evidence concerning Laila’s older sister, who was four years old at the time.

Jennifer and her husband, Joseph Rosenbaum, were charged in a sweeping indictment that eventually contained 49 counts.

At trial, prosecutors presented evidence that both children had suffered injuries and bruising while in the couple’s care.

The defense disputed the prosecution’s interpretation of the medical evidence. A defense forensic pathologist testified that some of Laila’s injuries could have occurred during frantic attempts to save her life and argued that an accidental explanation was possible.

The jury ultimately found Jennifer Rosenbaum guilty of felony murder and numerous counts involving aggravated assault, aggravated battery and cruelty to children. She was acquitted of malice murder and two felony-murder counts.

She was sentenced to life in prison plus 40 years.

Joseph Rosenbaum was also convicted on multiple charges and received a total sentence of 60 years in prison.

THE APPEAL

Jennifer Rosenbaum later appealed, arguing in part that her trial lawyers had been ineffective and that her joint representation with her husband created a conflict of interest.

On October 15, 2024, the Supreme Court of Georgia rejected those arguments and affirmed the trial court’s judgment.

The court concluded that her attorneys had made a reasonable strategic decision to pursue an accident defense rather than a justification defense. It also found that she had knowingly and voluntarily waived her right to conflict-free counsel.

Laila’s death remains a deeply disturbing chapter in a case involving two vulnerable children who had been placed in foster care.

The court proceedings established the criminal convictions against the Rosenbaums, while the surviving child was left to live with the consequences of what happened.

For Laila, the promise of a safe and stable home ended only months after she entered foster care.

She was just two years old.