A 10-year-old boy who was arrested Wednesday in connection with the June homicide of a 2-year-old Ocala girl will stay in secured detention, a judge ruled Thursday.

  • Journee Blyden, 2, died of severe head trauma in June
  • Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide
  • Her 10-year-old cousin was charged with manslaughter in her death

The boy has been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child in the death of his cousin, Journee Blyden. Judge Sue Robbins determined there was probable cause for his arrest. He will remain in secured detention until his arraignment at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 21.

Journee was taken to a hospital with severe head trauma June 21 and died a few days later. Detectives were told that she'd fallen from a playpen, deputies said in a news release.

But after further investigation, detectives determined that the 10-year-old boy caused the girl's fatal injuries.  

A young witness told detectives that the boy physically abused her and Journee when the three were left unsupervised.

When the boy was asked about this information from the witness, deputies say the boy told detectives that he was running while holding Journee and fell on the kitchen floor, injuring her. The boy then said he put her on the counter and "accidentally" pushed her off the counter top.

A medical examiner concluded that Journee's injuries were not consistent with what the boy said and ruled the girl’s death a homicide, saying her injuries would have taken excessive force.

“This situation was developed through the evidence, and through a very thorough investigation, we developed all of the evidence," Sheriff's Office spokesperson Lauren Lettelier said. "And through getting with our State Attorney’s Office, they were able to collectively come together and decide that the charges were appropriate in this case.”

Journee's father is Kendall Blyden, Marion deputies confirmed, who is going on trial this week in the murder of another child he was caring for in 2014, his then-girlfriend’s baby, 1-year-old Jayden Green.

In the case of Jayden’s death, Blyden is also accused of making up a story, originally saying the child fell out of a crib.

Jayden’s mother, Alexis Stiles, says she has watched Journee in the past and spoke about her feelings for the child and Kendall.

“I don't feel sorry for him, because he put me through the same thing. I feel sorry for the child. The child didn't deserve that,” Stiles said.

Note: Per News 13’s crime guidelines, we are not disclosing the name of the boy because he is a minor.