Aggravated child abuse charge filed as homicide investigation continues.
CITRA, Fla. — A Marion County man was jailed without bond Friday after deputies said a 3-year-old girl died from injuries suffered at a Citra home and a child witness reported hearing the suspect strike her. Authorities arrested Jeroen Jarrel Coombs, 32, on an aggravated child abuse charge.
Investigators say the death of Paisley Brown has been treated as a homicide since Thursday, when deputies responded to a report of an unresponsive child at a residence on Northeast 44th Avenue. Detectives said they are still building the case and expect potential additional charges after medical examiner findings are completed. The Sheriff’s Office has said the event was not random and involved people connected to the child.
Deputies were called to the home around noon Thursday after a report that a child was unresponsive. Paisley was transported to a hospital, where she later died, authorities said. Deputies said a man at the property was identified at the scene as the person who had harmed the child, and investigators detained Coombs as he tried to leave. Through interviews, detectives said they determined Coombs had been alone with multiple children that morning while other adults were away.
One of the central questions early in the investigation was how long it took for anyone to call for emergency help. Deputies said Coombs told the child’s mother at 10:58 a.m. that Paisley was unresponsive, but he did not contact emergency services for about 40 minutes. Investigators said the delay became a key part of their timeline as they compared phone calls, witness statements, and what people reported seeing inside the home during the late morning hours.
Authorities said a juvenile witness told investigators he heard Coombs strike the girl and also described prior incidents of physical abuse. Deputies said Coombs first told detectives the child seemed groggy when she woke up, but that account did not match injuries investigators said they observed. Detectives confronted Coombs about bruising and what they described as signs the child had been restrained, and deputies said Coombs then admitted he caused the injuries that led to her death.
Deputies said Coombs described restraining the child the night before she died. Investigators said he told them he tied Paisley’s hands with a robe tie and secured her legs with tape, explaining he wanted to keep her from reaching into her diaper. Deputies said Coombs told detectives he dropped the child while she was still bound. After that, deputies said, he admitted striking her multiple times.
In a statement attributed by investigators, Coombs said he realized he “took it too far.” Deputies said he told detectives he did not call 911 right away because he was scared. The Sheriff’s Office said Coombs was transported to the Marion County Jail and held without bond. Detectives said they continued to interview adults and children connected to the residence and to document what they described as injuries and marks found on the child.
The case drew a heavy response in the small community north of Ocala, where homes sit on larger lots and neighbors may not see each other daily. Deputies spent hours at the scene Thursday speaking with witnesses and securing the property while the investigation moved forward. Zach Moore, a Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, said the agency was disturbed by the death and focused on accountability, calling the case especially painful because the victim was a defenseless child.
Prosecutors and detectives are expected to review the file as medical examiner results are finalized. Deputies said detectives will work with the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office on additional charges once that report is available. As of Friday, authorities had not released a detailed schedule for court proceedings beyond the arrest and booking, and they said key forensic findings would help determine the final scope of charges.
Author note: Last updated February 20, 2026.