The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services tried to take 4-year-old Sequoia Samuels out of her home last year, a move that could have kept the girl alive. 

However, the petition for dependency and neglect was dismissed five months later and now her mother, Brittney Jackson, is facing decades in prison for her role in her daughter’s death. 

Samuels allegedly died after being attacked by Jaylon Hobson, the purported boyfriend of her mother, Jackson, according to the Memphis Police Department. 

Samuels was first reported missing by her mother last week. Her body was found in garbage bags near her Uptown Memphis home, and Memphis police said in an affidavit they believe she had been dead for several weeks. 

Jackson has been charged with aggravated child neglect, abuse of a corpse and making a false offense report. Hobson is charged with making a false offense report. 

Shelby County Juvenile Court confirmed Tuesday that a dependency and neglect petition involving Samuels was filed by DCS on Feb. 11, 2022, and dismissed on July 18, 2022. 

In a statement last week, DCS referred to the previous investigation. 

“When the court grants custody to DCS we have full responsibility for the child’s care. When another individual has custody of a child, DCS does not bear that responsibility,” the department said in a statement. 

Juvenile Court and DCS would not provide further details or clarification on Samuels' case.

“Pursuant to state and federal law, we are unable to release case-specific information regarding children or families served by the Department,” said Alex Denis, executive director of communications and external affairs with Tennessee DCS. “The law does allow us to release certain details regarding child fatalities investigated by the Department.”

Bail for mother set at $500,000 

Jackson appeared in court Tuesday morning before General Sessions Criminal Court Division 15 Judge Christian Johnson.

Jackson’s bail was set at $500,000. She faces 15 to 60 years for the child abuse charge, one to six years for the abuse of a corpse and up to 12 years for filing a false offense report.

The court appointed Kenneth Brashier, a private attorney, to represent Jackson due to a conflict of interest within the Shelby County Public Defender’s Office. 

Brashier said he intends to push for bail to be a lesser amount at another hearing for Jackson’s case Wednesday.

He also said he hopes she can make bail and be out of custody while the case continues.

“No mother in her right mind would’ve allowed this to happen, and I got to figure out how it happened, what happened…” Brashier said. 

Bail for Hobson set at $50,000, but DA wants it higher

During a news conference Tuesday, Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy said the case has been assigned to his office’s special victims unit. 

Mulroy said his office will file a request to raise Hobson’s initial bail, which was set at $50,000. 

“What this says more broadly about our system, (is) there’s a lot more for us to learn. And, at the end of the day, it’s a time of profound sadness,” Mulroy said.

No one has been charged with any other actions regarding Samuels’ death. 

Officer Theresa Carlson, an MPD spokeswoman, said Tuesday the investigation into Samuels’ death is continuing.

Hobson is represented by Craig Morton, who said he expects additional charges to come in the next month or so.

Morton said he expects “some sort of homicide charge” and that the charges will go straight to a grand jury for a potential indictment.