The tragic death of 7-year-old Julissia Batties has raised serious questions about whether the city’s child welfare system failed to protect her.
Julissia was found beaten to death in August 2021, just two months after she was returned to the care of her mother, Navasia Jones.
Julissia’s father, Julius Batties, has been vocal in his belief that the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) made a grave error in placing his daughter back in her mother’s home, where she was allegedly killed.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams was asked to comment on these claims during a press conference on June 30, 2022.
He stated, “We have to really examine exactly if there was a failure.”
Adams continued, “Anytime we have cases like this, we are in a constant state of analyzing how could we do something better.”
However, the grieving father, Julius Batties, shot back, accusing the mayor of being uninformed about the case.
“All of this is black and white,” Batties told The Post. “Go look at the records then come back to me.”
The tragic details surrounding Julissia’s life and death have highlighted severe systemic issues within ACS.
Julissia’s grandmother, Yolanda Davis, had previously fought to keep her granddaughter away from her mother.
Davis had temporarily gained custody of Julissia after her birth, but she was ultimately returned to her mother’s care by ACS despite concerns about Jones’ history of abuse and neglect.
Jones had lost custody of all five of her children due to alleged physical abuse and negligence before Julissia’s tragic death.
Yet, after an intense custody battle, Julissia was sent to live with her mother in the spring of 2021, a decision that has since been questioned.
Despite a history of domestic violence and multiple reports of abuse, the ACS made the decision to place Julissia with her mother.
“I begged ACS not to send her back to her mother,” Yolanda Davis recalled. “They didn’t listen to me, and now my granddaughter is dead.”
The heartbreaking story was compounded by an audio recording, obtained by The Post, in which Julissia can be heard hysterically begging her grandmother not to send her for a court-ordered visit with her mother.
The child’s pleas were ignored, and Julissia was sent to her mother’s home, despite concerns about her safety.
There had been at least six prior calls to the police regarding suspected abuse of Julissia, including incidents between May 2018 and March 2020.
Yet, despite this history, ACS placed Julissia in the home with her mother.
The tragic end to Julissia’s short life came just a few months later, after being beaten by her 18-year-old half-brother, Paul Fine Jr.
Prosecutors allege that Fine physically and sexually assaulted Julissia in the days leading up to her death.
On August 10, 2021, Fine allegedly beat Julissia so severely that she suffered fatal injuries.
The NYPD found her lifeless body, with evidence of trauma all over her small frame.
The abuse was so intense that she had 600 milliliters of blood in her abdomen, according to the autopsy.
Fine has been charged with sexual assault, murder, and manslaughter in connection to the young girl’s death.
Her mother, Navasia Jones, was also charged with murder and manslaughter for her role in allowing the abuse to occur without seeking help for her daughter.
Both Jones and Fine Jr. have been ordered held without bail as their cases move forward.
In an emotional interview, Julissia’s grandmother, Yolanda Davis, expressed her outrage at ACS’s decision to place Julissia in her mother’s care.
“They saw the red flags and they ignored it,” Davis said. “The child was telling them and they weren’t listening. How can you allow a child to go back to where she’s been abused?”
The questions about the effectiveness of ACS and its handling of Julissia’s case have prompted calls for an in-depth review of the agency’s procedures.
Former city councilman Stephen Levin, who chaired the General Welfare Committee, also expressed his concerns about the failure to protect the child.
“Obviously, the system failed this little girl,” Levin said. “She should never have been in a home with that brother.”
Levin emphasized the need for ACS to review the situation carefully, stating that it was critical to understand where the decision-making process went wrong.
“This little girl’s future was robbed from her,” Levin added. “It’s just heartbreaking.”
The investigation into Julissia’s death has taken several months, and the delay in arresting the suspects has caused frustration among the family and the community.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark defended the delay, stating that it was necessary to gather all medical evidence and properly investigate the case.
“It takes time for the medical examiner to follow up with whatever leads them to medical evidence,” Clark explained. “We didn’t want to rush the process.”
Clark added that the investigation was thorough and that the office wanted to ensure that every detail was considered before bringing charges.
However, many people, including Julissia’s family, feel that the system failed her.
They believe that ACS should have been more diligent in ensuring her safety, especially given the history of abuse and the warning signs that were ignored.
Julissia’s grandmother expressed her continued pain over the loss, saying, “I went to the cemetery today. I told her, ‘I’m still fighting for you and I am not going to stop.’”
The family’s grief is compounded by the belief that Julissia’s death could have been prevented.
“We had no idea this was going to happen,” said Julissia’s father, Julius Batties. “She was just a little girl, and now she’s gone.”
The tragic loss has left the family in shock and has raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the child welfare system in protecting vulnerable children.
As the case moves forward, many are hoping that the tragedy of Julissia’s death will lead to reforms within ACS and the child welfare system as a whole.
For now, Julissia’s family is focused on seeking justice for their daughter, whose life was taken far too soon.
They continue to call for accountability and hope that no other child will have to endure the same fate.
Julissia’s death is a stark reminder of the importance of child protection and the need for greater vigilance when it comes to the safety and well-being of children in foster care or with parents with a history of abuse.
As the investigation continues and the legal proceedings move forward, her family remains committed to ensuring that her memory lives on.
“I’m not going to stop fighting for her,” Yolanda Davis said, her voice filled with determination. “This won’t be forgotten.”
Julissia may be gone, but her family is dedicated to honoring her life and raising awareness about the systemic failures that led to her death.