Mesquite man charged with capital murder, autopsy reveals 4-month-old's cause of death
Jayeshaun Spencer (Mesquite PD)
MESQUITE, Texas - A Mesquite man initially arrested for a protective order violation is now facing capital murder charges after an autopsy revealed a 4-month-old infant in his care died from massive, intentional blunt force trauma.
Capital murder charges
Jayeshaun Demonde Spencer, 24, was arrested Thursday by Mesquite police in connection with the death of Alayah Hogan. According to a newly released arrest warrant affidavit, Dallas County Medical Examiner Dr. Duscat ruled the child's death a homicide caused by a large skull fracture, noting the injuries could not have been caused by an accidental fall.
Mesquite baby’s death leads to man’s capital murder arrest
Mesquite police arrested 24-year-old Jayeshaun Spencer for capital murder following an investigation into the death of a 4-month-old infant who was found unconscious with multiple injuries.
The backstory:
The investigation began on the afternoon of May 9, 2026, when emergency personnel were dispatched to the Lane Apartments in the 4005 block of Towne Crossing Boulevard. First responders arrived to find the infant unresponsive and gasping for air. The baby was airlifted to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, where she was placed on life support. She was pronounced brain-dead six days later, on May 15.
According to the affidavit, Spencer was left alone to watch the infant while her biological mother, Alana Hogan, went to a garage sale. Spencer initially told investigators that he had propped a bottle up with a blanket for the baby, left her in a car seat, and went to use the restroom. He claimed he returned to find her gagging and turning purple.
However, medical scans quickly alerted investigators to a deeper pattern of abuse. Hospital staff discovered the infant had suffered multiple skull fractures in various stages of healing, a brain bleed, and a recently fractured leg. The subsequent autopsy confirmed a large, fatal skull fracture, two broken femurs, and a healing broken rib.
The affidavit also revealed that while Spencer was initially held in the Mesquite City Jail on the day of the incident, he called the child's mother and admitted he had an "accident" where he fell on top of the infant. The medical examiner explicitly rejected that explanation, stating the severe injuries required a level of force inconsistent with any accidental fall.
At the time of the medical emergency, officers discovered Spencer was actively violating a family violence protective order issued in March, which barred him from coming within 300 yards of Alana Hogan or her residence. He was arrested on the scene for the protective order violation before the capital murder warrant was issued this week.
In a bail request form, Detective N. Hopkins noted that Spencer was the common-law spouse of the victim's mother. Investigators filed the capital murder charge after concluding Spencer was the sole caregiver present at the time of the fatal assault and had provided multiple inconsistent statements to police.
Spencer remains in custody, and Child Protective Services has since taken custody of another young child who resided in the home.
The Source: The information in this story comes from the Mesquite Police Department and the arrest affidavit for Jayeshaun Demonde Spencer.