Memorial Grows for Two Murdered Toddlers as Case Goes Cold, Quiet
by David Greene
The memorial for two young children murdered inside the Amalgamated Houses in Kingsbridge Terrace continues to grow, as detectives say their investigation is being hampered due to a lack of cooperation from the mother and boyfriend, who remain the likely suspects in the horrific crime.
Members of the NYPD and journalists had been camped out along the quiet, tree-lined block for much of the week, after paramedics were called to Van Cortlandt Park South and Orloff Avenue at 1:20 a.m. on Monday, July 10. The mother had told officers that both kids suffered from asthma.
Residents continue to drop off flowers and small teddy bears for Olivia and Micha, who died on July 10 Photo by David Greene
Officials say Olivia Gee, 2, and her brother Micha, 3, died within minutes of each other at Montefiore Hospital North. Not believing that two children could succumb to a fatal asthma attack at the same time, detectives began the investigation before the Office of the City’s Medical Examiner ruled late Monday that both children had died from “blunt force trauma” and “internal bleeding.”
Police briefly question the mother Jade Spencer, 31, a nurse practitioner, who was allowed to return to the apartment. Residents reported crying coming from the apartment, shortly before Spencer sought treatment at a psychiatric unit of a local hospital.
Police say the boyfriend, Jordan Novell, 31, a reputed member of the Bloods gang, had a more extensive questioning at the 50th Precinct, before requesting an attorney who halted the questioning on Wednesday. Jordan was eventually released without any charges being filed.
Members of several local television news networks were camped outside of the Amalgamated Houses where police say two young children were murdered.–Photo by David Greene
On Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said of the heartbreaking deaths, “Our city is mourning the loss of two young children in a tragedy Monday in the Bronx. As a parent, it’s very painful for me to think about the deaths of these two children and what the family is going through right now.”
The NYPD’s Crime Scene Unit returns to Van Cortlandt Park Avenue for the third day investigating the death of two young children on July 10.–Photo by David Greene
On Wednesday, Robert Boyce, the NYPD’s Chief of Detectives confirmed that both of the children were “beaten… they bled to death, both children.” He added that detectives were working closely with the medical examiner and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office in an effort to bring closure to the case.
Calls to the Spencer home were greeted by the grinding sound of a fax machine.
On Saturday, July 15 authorities reported the deaths of two additional Bronx babies who died in unrelated incidents, and most likely, tragic sleeping mishaps.
At just after sunrise 6 month-old Zalaiah Lewis was discovered not breathing inside her families bedroom at 20 Richman Plaza, in the Morris Heights section.
In Concourse Village police say 1-month-old Sofia Mendez was discovered unconscious and unresponsive a 9 a.m., inside the family bedroom at 232 East 169 Street.
Both children were rushed to Bronx Lebanon Hospital and both were pronounced dead upon arrival. The cause of both death’s would be determined by the medical examiner, but at this time the two deaths are believed to be tragic accidents and no criminality is believed to be involved.
On May 24 the New York City Administration for Children’s Services and the New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene kicked off a citywide campaign to promote safe sleep practices for families with infants. Sleep-related smothering deaths of infants is a leading cause of deaths of infants with 40 such deaths reported in across the fie boroughs in 2014 and 48 were reported in 2015.
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