Parents arrested in alleged neglect death of 8-year-old San Jose girl

Key Points:

• Gabrielle Hanson and Jacob Randolph, mother and stepfather of 8-year-old Aurora Williams who died from an asthma attack, were charged with felony child neglect and child endangerment related to the unsanitary conditions of their home and delayed medical care.
• Aurora was found unresponsive after eight hours of medical distress in a cockroach-infested home, and her death was ruled a homicide due to severe asthma exacerbated by neglect and failure to provide timely medical care.
• The couple's home had a history of child welfare referrals and reports of unsanitary living conditions, but prior investigations often found concerns inconclusive; their six surviving children have been placed in foster care.
• Jonathan Hanson, Gabrielle Hanson’s brother, was separately arrested and charged with sexual assault of Gabrielle’s stepdaughter, with bail revoked amid allegations of abuse and recording the victim.
• The case highlights ongoing failures in Santa Clara County’s child welfare system, prompting calls from the District Attorney for a multi-agency team to better protect vulnerable children and address systemic issues.