The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office has charged a San Jose couple, Gabrielle Hanson, 32, and Jacob Randolph, 39, with felony child neglect following the death of their 8-year-old daughter, Aurora. Prosecutors stated on Tuesday that the child died after an asthma attack in a home described as infested with cockroaches, mold, and littered with garbage and pet feces. Evidence, according to the District Attorney’s Office, indicates that Hanson and Randolph were aware of the hazardous and unsanitary conditions and had received multiple warnings from medical and social service workers regarding the danger these conditions posed to their seven young children.
Prosecutors further alleged that when Aurora experienced serious medical distress, her parents delayed seeking medical help for eight hours, which was "too late." All three defendants, including Jonathan Hanson, 44, Aurora's mother's brother, were arraigned today. Gabrielle Hanson and Jacob Randolph were released on their own recognizance, despite objections from the District Attorney’s Office. Jonathan Hanson was remanded with no bail allowed. Their next court appearance is scheduled for November 20, at the Hall of Justice in San Jose.
The investigation into Aurora's death also led to child sexual abuse charges against Jonathan Hanson. He faces two counts of molestation and one count of possessing explicit phone videos of a victim, who was between the ages of 11 and 15 at the time of the crimes. Gabrielle Hanson, identified as the stepmother of the sexual assault victim, was also charged with knowing about the molestation and failing to intervene.
On the morning of May 13, San Jose police officers and San Jose Fire Department personnel responded to a medical emergency involving a child at a home on Lancelot Lane. Six children ranging from two months to 17 years old who were at the residence were subsequently taken into protective custody by Department of Family and Children Services social workers. Aurora was declared dead four days later. On September 1, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Michelle Jorden determined the cause of death for the 8-year-old was a lack of oxygen to the brain due to severe asthma with acute lung injury in the setting of human rhinovirus/enterovirus infection. Prosecutors stated that medical neglect was a significant factor in her death, and the manner of death was determined to be homicide.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen, while announcing the charges, also stated that the county’s child welfare system bears some responsibility for Aurora’s death. Rosen said, "Another child is needlessly dead in this county, and once again our prosecutors will do everything in our legal power to hold the people who did this responsible." He added that "prosecuting people after this kind of tragedy is necessary – and not enough," raising "serious questions about how this child and her siblings lived in this dangerous squalor for so long." Rosen emphasized that the community deserves "honest answers and real changes" in the name of the lost child and her siblings.
Prosecutors stated that an investigation showed Aurora and her siblings had "lived in squalid and dangerous conditions for years," which had been documented by county social service workers. Detectives learned that these unsanitary conditions had been present since at least 2019. Prior reports from DFCS and SJPD noted significant cockroach infestations that affected areas and items used by the children, including everyday household items, bedding, and medical equipment.
In February 2025, Aurora was brought to the emergency room by a relative due to asthma, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. While at the hospital, a bug reportedly fell from her shoe, and a cockroach was observed crawling on her. The girl told staff, "Oh yeah, bugs just crawl on me." She was also reported to smell like cat urine, appeared seriously underweight and pale, and stated she was hungry and had not eaten. During the investigation into Aurora’s death, detectives observed that her asthma medical equipment was not being properly maintained. Her prescribed inhaler was not found inside the residence during either of the two search warrants. Detectives eventually located a dirty, poorly maintained inhaler spacer that was missing its rubber seal, which is designed to prevent medication from leaking. A respiratory mask found also contained cockroaches.
