September 8, 2025 THE BRONX, NY — A devastating story that began in a quiet South Bronx apartment has now turned into a murder investigation after a one-year-old child, who was allegedly punched by her mother's boyfriend, succumbed to her injuries. The case has sent shockwaves through the community, with police now classifying the incident as a homicide.

Little Imani Mitchell was just one year old when she was found bruised and barely breathing in her Union Avenue apartment on August 28. According to police, responding officers arrived at the scene around 4:45 p.m. to find the child in critical condition. She had been left in the care of her mother’s boyfriend, 19-year-old Jerome Thomas, while her mother, LeNesha Mitchell, was out getting groceries.

Initially, Thomas reportedly admitted to striking the child twice on the side of her head. He was arrested the next day and charged with two counts of assault and endangering the welfare of a child. But after a week-long fight for her life and multiple surgeries, Imani tragically passed away at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem.

For LeNesha Mitchell, the loss is unimaginable. She described her daughter as the "light" of her life. "She changed me. She made me feel more confident about myself as a first-time mother," Mitchell told the New York Daily News. The last memory she has of her daughter is a poignant one: "Before I walked out that door to go to the supermarket, I picked her up. She reached her hands to me and gave me a kiss on my cheek. Then I came back to all of that."

Thomas, who had been living in the home and dating Imani's mother for several months, is not the child's father. He is currently being held without bail and is expected to appear in court on Friday, where his charges will likely be upgraded to reflect the child's death. The community, which was reportedly unaware of any issues at the home, is left grappling with a senseless tragedy that has claimed the life of an innocent child.

This developing story continues to unfold as prosecutors prepare to present a stronger case against Thomas. The investigation remains active.