Jury finds Milwaukee woman guilty in death of 10-year-old daughter

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee woman was found guilty Tuesday, May 30, in the death of her 10-year-old daughter.

A jury found Henrietta Rogers, 48, guilty of first-degree reckless homicide. 

Officers located the body of 10-year-old Jada Clay at a home near 44th and Glendale on Feb. 10 of 2022.

According to a criminal complaint, Jada lived at the home with Rogers and two older siblings. On the morning of Feb. 10, Jada's sister said Jada was "acting up" and refusing to allow Rogers to put braids in her hair. 

The complaint says Rogers left the house and Jada reportedly stated that she was not going to school that day and locked herself in her bedroom. After school, Jada's siblings told investigators they found Jada in a locked room face down and without a pulse. Around the same time, officers were dispatched to Schlitz Park after a caller reported a woman, later identified as Rogers, was crying and asking for help. 

Authorities observed scratches and bruises on Rogers' arms. She reportedly stated that she ran out of gas and just wanted to go home. 

Investigators notified Rogers Jada was found severely injured and asked for consent to search the home. Rogers allegedly said no and then became agitated, stating she didn't understand why police were asking her questions.

An autopsy performed by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office determined Jada suffered bruising and deep hemorrhaging to her upper body and neck, as well as her eyes. A preliminary cause of death was asphyxia.

Rogers' sentencing hearing is set for Aug. 11.