Mother charged in 2010 child abuse

COLUMBIA, Md. (AP) - Howard County police have charged a Columbia woman with abusing her toddler son in 2010. The boy died last year in an unrelated homicide.

Twenty-eight-year-old Joaquinia LaJeuness was indicted last week on child abuse, assault and other offenses. She was arrested Friday in Meridian, Mich., and returned to Maryland on Saturday. She is being held on $25,000 bond.

Police say on Nov. 3, 2010, the Howard County Department of Social Services received a report that her son, 2-year-old Elijah LaJeuness, had bruises on his face. Police investigated, but officers said there was not enough evidence to file charges.

On April 13, 2011, Elijah was found unresponsive and died at a hospital. An autopsy showed the cause of death was asphyxiation and the manner homicide. No one has been charged.