Public Safety

Gainesville protesters call for child welfare reform after toddler’s death

Community members gathered at Bo Diddley Plaza to honor 3-year-old Paisley Brown, who died in March in a case authorities say involved abuse and neglect. Jeroen Jarrel Combs, the boyfriend of Paisley’s mother, was indicted last month on charges including first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and capital sexual battery of a child under 12, while her mother faces two counts of felony child neglect. Protest organizers say the case exposes failures in Florida’s child welfare system, including concerns about the Department of Children and Families outsourcing cases to third-party companies.

Sources: WCJB TV20