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Girl Found Unattended Now Linked To Mother's Death

LANDSDOWNE, Md. (WJZ) -- A child was found wandering the streets in the middle of the night, which led police to a death investigation.

Rick Ritterhas more from a community that's shaken up.

The story is hitting a lot of people hard in the area. Only WJZ spoke with the man who found her Sunday night. He says the three-year-old could barely talk and had blood all over her shirt. The girl was later identified as Jaycia Jackson.

Jaycia was helpless and wandering Baltimore County by herself. Police are now linking this little girl to a death investigation.

"That child is going to be traumatized for the rest of her life," said neighbor Jeanne Arevalo.

Sunday night around 10:30, the three-year-old wandered out of her Lansdowne Home off Hollins Ferry Road.

Frank Myers was working security at a nearby bar and spotted her in a CVS parking lot.

"We said, `Excuse me, where's your mother and father?' and she said, `Well, my mother is bleedy' and she had blood on her," Myers said.

Myers says the child was clearly in disarray.

"We became real concerned, overwhelming concern. We wanted to know if her mother was hurt or what happened," Myers said.

missing girl Jacia
Missing girl found off Hollins Ferry road
missing girl Jacia
Missing girl found off Hollins Ferry road

He and a coworker immediately called police. They helped officers canvass the area with the girl but had no luck finding her home.

"She was saying she wanted to go see the fishies and her mother was bleedy," he said.

Police say it wasn't until Monday morning when they found out where she lived.

Crime scene tape surrounded the home, as detectives brought out bags of evidence. Inside was the child's mother, dead and covered in blood. Her mom was later identified as Brittany Jackson.

"At this point, we can't say for certainty where the blood came from," said Cpl. John Wachter, Baltimore County police.

Neighbors are rattled.

"It's terrible to happen so close. Could've been my daughter and grandson walking out there," said Sherry Williams.

Others, like Arevalo, are trying to put together the pieces.

"I think the mother was alive and sent the little girl for help," Arevalo said.

Police say there are no obvious signs of foul play but the entire community is desperate for answers.

"People need to speak up and start talking," Arevalo said.

At last check, the child remains in the custody of Social Services. Police are trying to get in touch with family members.

Surveillance cameras are outside the home; police say they're looking into that, as well. The investigation is ongoing. An autopsy will determine the official cause of death.

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