“None of this should have happened”: Spokane Valley toddler mourned at vigil

Parishioners gathered for a vigil Saturday night celebrating the life of a 19-month-old child who tragically passed away earlier this month.

“None of this should have happened,” said Venacia Atoque, a friend of the toddler’s family. “We should all play with her here in the park and not light candles.”

Family, friends, community members and bikers gathered at Mirabeau Meadows Park to commemorate 19-month-old Azaelia Raine Redhorse Jones, who police said died under suspicious circumstances in the care of her mother’s friend.

Saturday attendees said the emotion and pain at the event showed how much the young child means to the family and community.

“Everyone here today shows that this child is important,” said Monica Jouwsma, a Spokane resident.

A panel of pictures by Azaelia showed the toddler’s life and enabled strangers to glimpse the clear happiness that she brought to her family.

“She was the most beautiful baby ever,” said Rachel Silk, Azaelia’s grandmother. “They haven’t seen as many friends and family as often as they wanted because of the pandemic.”

Those who knew Azaelia well described her as an unbridled joy.

“She loved it when people were around her, nobody was strangers to her,” said Atoque. “She is one of the best little girls I have ever met.”

The Guardians of the Children biker group helped the family organize the event.

On August 4, law enforcement responded to a medical call from a young child who was unable to breathe and was seriously injured.

Law enforcement took the toddler, now known as Azaelia, to the hospital, but she died two days later, according to the Spokane County medical examiner.

Azaelia’s mother’s 19-year-old boyfriend, Mickey E. Brown Jr., looked after the toddler while the mother worked. Brown told detectives he ran with the infant in his arms after she had a seizure, then tripped and fell on her, police said.

A doctor who treated Azaelia before she died told detectives that the injuries were a non-accidental, deliberately inflicted type of child abuse.

Brown was charged with first degree assault. When he first appeared in court on Monday, he pleaded not guilty of assault charges and a pending third-degree theft charge.

The family set up a Facebook page for donations to help fund funerals.