Grandma who fought for custody of slain seven-year-old Bronx girl speaks out

The grandmother who fought fiercely to maintain custody of a seven-year-old girl who was killed last year has said that the girl never should have been placed in the care of her mother.

On Wednesday, Navasia Jones, 36, and her 17-year-old son Paul Fine Jr were charged with murdering Jone’s seven-year-old daughter Julissia Batties in their Bronx apartment last August.

Julissia’s paternal grandmother Yolanda Davis had taken care of the girl for most of her short life, and was locked in a bitter custody dispute with Jones, who regained custody of the child soon before her death, despite the girl’s desperate pleas not to return.

‘I fought hard all the time for my granddaughter,’ Davis told reporters following the arrests. ‘I fought many a day, I was attacked by case workers but I say today that I was glad there is justice.’

‘I just thank god that I got justice for my granddaughter. She deserves that, she really deserves that, and God gave justice,’ the grandmother added in an interview with DailyMail.com outside of the arraignment. ‘I’ve been waiting for this day for 10 months.’

Julissia Batties, seven, died in the care of her mother and half-brother in the Bronx last August. After a 10-month investigation, the mom and brother are now charged with her murder

Julissia’s paternal grandmother Yolanda Davis has said that the girl never should have been placed in the care of her mother

On Wednesday, Navasia Jones, 36, (left) and her 17-year-old son Paul Fine Jr (right) were charged with murdering Jone’s seven-year-old daughter Julissia Batties

Prosecutors say that Julissia was viciously beaten and abused over a period of two days while in the care of Jones and Fine Jr prior to her death on August 10, 2021.

Fine Jr allegedly confessed to beating the girl all over her body, and was additionally charged with sexually assaulting the girl, his half-sister. 

After seeing the teen being escorted into court in cuffs, Julissia’s father Julius Batties told DailyMail.com: ‘I want him put away for what he’s done.’

‘This is a revolting, disturbing case of brutality and callousness,’ said Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark.

‘The investigation revealed that Julissia was failed throughout her brief life. The signs of her torment were there but not acted on,’ the DA added. 

‘We send our condolences to Julissia’s father and grandmother, who remain devastated by the loss of this beautiful, little girl.’ 

At a press conference, Clark revealed sickening details of the investigation.

According to the investigation, Julissia lay suffering and dying for three hours before her mother finally called 911 at 8.06am on August 10, 2021, after being urged by a family member to do so. 

When first responders arrived, Julissia had no pulse and no vital signs. The child was taken to Lincoln Hospital where she was pronounced dead. 

Julissia’s grandmother Yolanda Davis (left) and father Julius Batties (right) spoke out praising the arrest of Jones and Fine Jr in the young girl’s death

After seeing Fine Jr being escorted into court in cuffs, Julissia’s father Julius Batties (with her above) told DailyMail.com: ‘I want him put away for what he’s done’

The girl’s mom and half-brother claimed that Julissia had fallen down after vomiting and urinating on herself at 5am that day, and had fallen against various items and the floor and hurt herself.

Prosecutors say that the injuries on the little girl’s body show that those claims are false.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the child died by homicide caused by blunt force trauma to her abdomen, concluding that she was struck with enough force to cause her internal organs to tear and bleed.

The ME determined the bruises on Julissia’s face were likely caused by a fist or hand. 

There were additional injuries, visible bruises, marks, and scratches on Julissia’s body, including on both wrists, her clavicle, upper thigh and mouth. 

The child had injuries that were consistent with sexual assault, which were inflicted after Julissia had been beaten in her abdomen. 

A police source told the New York Post the girl’s autopsy revealed that she had been sodomized. 

On Wednesday, Jones and Fine, Jr., were taken into custody at approximately 9.30am by officers from New York City’s 40th Precinct. 

Fine Jr allegedly confessed to beating the girl all over her body, and was additionally charged with sexually assaulting the girl, his half-sister

The teen brother of the slain 7-year-old in the Bronx, Paul Fine Jr. allegedly admitted that he assaulted his sister, Julissia Batties

Father Julius Batties is seen at the arraignment for Paul Fine Jr, who allegedly killed his daughter, Julissia Batties

The father wore a shirt with a tribute to his daughter, who was killed last August 

Greiving father Julius Batties (second from right) attends the Bronx district attorney’s press conference announcing charges against Jones and Fine Jr

As she was escorted out of the precinct, Jones snapped at a reporter denying the charges, saying: ‘I didn’t kill my daughter, b***h.’

Jones and Fine Jr are both now charged with murder, manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child.

Fine Jr was additionally charged with first-degree assault and first-degree sexual abuse. 

Both are being held without bond, and it was unclear whether they had attorneys to speak on their behalf. Jones is next due in court on September 12, and Fine Jr is set to appear on July 5. 

Speaking outside the arraignment, grandmother Yolanda Davis told DailyMail.com that she was ‘really happy’ to see Jones and Fine Jr in custody after a prolonged 10-month investigation.

‘One thing my granddaughter said to me last was “we win,”‘ she said, recalling one of her last interactions with Julissia. ‘And we definitely win.’

A memorial was set up for 7-year old Julissia Batties at the Mitchel Houses in the Bronx on August 13th, 2021. The girl’s lifeless body was discovered inside her mom’s apartment

Prior to Julissia’s murder, police had been called to the apartment at the NYCHA’s Mitchel Houses on Alexander Avenue over at least six times, over the past three years, sources said, and one of those times, the mother covered for her son, the New York Post reported.  

Davis has said Jones has seven other children, and the city has taken taken each of her seven children away from her at some point.

She fought along with a court-appointed attorney, but in June 2021, the city Administration for Children’s Services returned Julissia to live with her mother.

It would be without supervision, for the first time, and Julissia was killed less than two months later, the Post reported. 

The girl’s father, Julius felt that ACS failed him and his daughter by giving up the child to the mother, who allegedly abused her, the Post previously reported. 

At the time, an ACS spokesman said:  ‘Our top priority is protecting the safety and wellbeing of all children in New York City. We are investigating this case with the NYPD.’