JACKSONVILLE, Ark. – Police in Jacksonville say a couple accused of child abuse and neglect stemming from a July investigation is now facing an additional capital murder charge after a second child died last week.
Jacksonville Police Department officials said Deja and Justin Rollins are facing a second capital murder charge after their 3-year-old died from her injuries on Friday. The couple already each faced a capital murder charge after their 2-year-old died earlier in July.
On July 7, authorities said officers responded to a child abuse and neglect case involving the 3-year-old who was taken to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for urgent medical treatment. Little Rock police noted that the child appeared to be suffering from heat exhaustion. After the incident, police said the couple was arrested.
During their investigation, Jacksonville police said they learned that the couple had four other children, ages 2 to 10, adding that the couple did not cooperate in telling authorities where the children were located. The officers said the children were later found left in a car in the hospital’s parking lot.
Police said the 2-year-old who died later on July 8 was one of the children found inside the car.
In addition to the capital murder charges, Deja & Justin Rollins are each facing five counts of first-degree domestic battery, five counts of neglect of a vulnerable person, five counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, one count of animal cruelty and one count of obstructing government operations.
Image courtesy Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility
Image courtesy Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility
Court records show Deja Rollins pleaded not guilty to the new capital murder charge but Justin Rollins’ plea status was not listed. The couple pleaded not guilty to original murder charges. Both are being held in the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility without bond.