The discovery of the 2-year-old child’s body in a Nevada dumpster has left many questions unanswered and the public demanding justice.
Little is known about Diaja Smith, a 23-year-old woman and a resident of Las Vegas, Nevada. But the events that unfolded have thrust her into the national spotlight.
As the details of this disturbing case unfold, a clearer picture of Smith’s life and the circumstances leading up to the tragedy begins to emerge.
Jacoby Robinson Jr., the 2-year-old victim, was Diaja Smith’s son.
On the evening of June 6, 2024, Diaja Smith reported her son, Jacoby Robinson Jr., missing. According to the police reports, the toddler was last seen around 7:45 pm near the corner of Lewis Avenue and 15th Street, close to Mayfair Place Park in Downtown Las Vegas.
Immediately after the report, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) initiated a search for the missing child. Officers canvassed the neighborhood, distributing flyers with Jacoby’s photo and description, and appealing to nearby residents for any information that could aid in the search.
On June 7, 2024, just before 1 am, the search efforts took a devastating turn. LVMPD officers located a body inside a dumpster on Lewis Avenue, just a short distance from where Jacoby was last seen. Tragically, the body was identified as that of the missing 2-year-old.
Following the discovery of Jacoby’s body, the investigation quickly shifted to Diaja Smith, the child’s mother. She was arrested and booked into the Clark County Detention Center on charges of open murder and child abuse.
The autopsy of Jacoby Robinson Jr. revealed disturbing details about the nature of his injuries. Prosecutors stated that the child had suffered “very concerning injuries,” including trauma to his genitals and wounds covering nearly 100% of his body, indicating he had been severely beaten and whipped with a cord.
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As the case progressed, more harrowing details emerged during the court proceedings involving Diaja Smith and Jacoby Robinson.
According to prosecutors, Jacoby Robinson allegedly admitted to being present in the apartment at the time Jacoby Robinson Jr. was beaten and whipped. He reportedly witnessed the child throwing up and helped clean the vomit from the child’s mouth and nose before the child went back to sleep.
Prosecutors also alleged that Diaja Smith was directly responsible for the child’s death, charging her with open murder. The details of her involvement and the timeline of events leading up to Jacoby’s death remain under investigation.
Smith is currently being held at the Clark County Detention Center on murder and child abuse charges, jail records show.
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