Coroner rules Elijah Ross’ death a homicide

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Fort Wayne’s NBC) - The Allen County’s Coroner’s Office has determined that the 9-year-old boy who sustained severe injuries in a home on Putnam Street died by homicide. The ruling could mean additional charges in the case, which led police to arrest the mother and stepmother of the boy.

Police were called to a home in the 800 block of Putnam Street around 1:15 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, for a “juvenile neglect/abuse investigation”. They say Elijah Ross was pronounced dead after he was taken from the home to an area hospital.

Court records showed that Elijah had sustained injuries to numerous parts of his body and was in dire condition when doctors received him. They say Elijah was brought to Lutheran Hospital by his mother and her spouse.

An autopsy was ordered and completed, finding there were multiple blunt force injuries on the boy. New information says the cause of death is due to blunt force injuries to the head.

The boy’s mother, Jenna Mae Miller, 36, currently faces a total of four counts of neglect, including Neglect of Dependent Causing Death, a level 1 felony. Miller’s spouse, Alesha Miller, also faces neglect charges in connection to Elijah’s death.

Alesha Miller is currently being held on a “72-hour-hold” with her first court date set for December 29.