A San Jose mother and stepfather are facing felony child neglect charges following the death of their 8-year-old daughter from a severe asthma attack. Prosecutors allege the girl lived for years in a home infested with cockroaches, mold, and pet feces. The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office announced the charges this week against Gabrielle Hanson, 32, and Jacob Randolph, 39, concerning the death of Aurora Williams in May 2026.
Prosecutors stated that Ms. Hanson and Mr. Randolph allegedly knew about the dangerous conditions in their San Jose home and had received repeated warnings from medical professionals and social workers regarding the risks to their seven children. Despite these warnings, the couple reportedly waited eight hours to seek medical help when Aurora began experiencing serious medical distress. District Attorney Jeff Rosen noted, "It was too late."
Investigators determined that Aurora and her siblings had been living in "squalid and dangerous conditions" since at least 2019. In February 2025, over a year before her death, Aurora was taken to an emergency room by a relative for asthma symptoms, including wheezing and difficulty breathing. Hospital staff reported seeing a cockroach crawling on Aurora and another falling from her shoe, prompting her to tell staff, "Oh yeah, bugs just crawl on me." Staff also noted she smelled like cat urine, appeared seriously underweight and pale, and stated she was hungry.
On May 13, 2026, San Jose police and firefighters responded to the family's Lancelot Lane home for a child's medical emergency. Aurora was declared dead four days later, on May 17, 2026. The medical examiner concluded that Aurora died from a lack of oxygen to the brain caused by severe asthma and an acute lung injury associated with a viral infection. Medical neglect was identified as a significant contributing factor, and her death was ruled a homicide.
Detectives found that Aurora's prescribed asthma equipment had not been properly maintained; her inhaler was missing during two searches of the home. A dirty inhaler spacer was discovered without its rubber seal, which is designed to prevent medication leakage. Investigators also found a respiratory mask containing cockroaches. Following Aurora's death, social workers took six other children, ranging from 2 months to 17 years old, into protective custody.
The investigation also led to child sexual abuse charges against Aurora's maternal uncle, Jonathan Hanson, 44, involving another child in the home. Prosecutors charged Mr. Jonathan Hanson with two counts of molestation and one count of possessing explicit videos of the alleged victim, who was between 11 and 15 years old at the time of the alleged offenses. Gabrielle Hanson, the alleged victim's stepmother, was also charged with knowing about the alleged abuse and failing to intervene.
All three defendants were arraigned Tuesday. Gabrielle Hanson and Jacob Randolph were released under supervised own recognizance despite prosecutors' objections, while Jonathan Hanson was ordered held without bail. Their next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 20 at the Hall of Justice in San Jose.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen emphasized the need for accountability and community understanding. He stated that while prosecuting those responsible is necessary, it is "not enough." Mr. Rosen added, "There are serious questions about how this child and her siblings lived in this dangerous squalor for so long. In the name of this lost child and the others, this community deserves honest answers and real changes."
