A Mesquite man is facing capital murder charges following the tragic death of a 4-month-old infant, ruled a homicide by medical examiners. Jayeshaun Demonde Spencer, 24, was arrested after an autopsy revealed that the infant, Alayah Hogan, suffered severe blunt force trauma, contradicting Spencer’s account of an accidental fall.
The investigation into the infant’s death began on May 9, 2026, when emergency responders were dispatched to the Lane Apartments on Towne Crossing Boulevard. Upon arrival, they found the baby unresponsive and struggling to breathe. Alayah was airlifted to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, where she remained on life support until being pronounced brain-dead six days later, on May 15.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Spencer had been entrusted with caring for Alayah while her mother, Alana Hogan, attended a garage sale. Initially, Spencer claimed he propped a bottle with a blanket, placed the baby in a car seat, and briefly left the room. Upon his return, he said he found her gagging and turning purple.
However, medical examinations revealed a distressing history of abuse. The infant had multiple skull fractures in various stages of healing, a brain hemorrhage, and a recently fractured leg. The autopsy further confirmed a significant skull fracture, two broken femurs, and a healing rib fracture, all inconsistent with Spencer’s explanation.
While in custody at the Mesquite City Jail, Spencer reportedly confessed to Alana about an “accident” involving him falling on top of the baby. This claim was dismissed by the medical examiner, who stated that the extent of Alayah’s injuries indicated a level of force far beyond what could be attributed to an accidental fall.
In a heartfelt tribute, Alana Hogan shared her memories of Alayah, describing her daughter as a “bright and beautiful baby” with a cheerful disposition and captivating brown eyes. “She was always smiling and giggling more than crying,” Alana reminisced. “There’s so much more that could be said about her, but it’s so hard to put into words right now.”
At the time of the incident, Spencer was found to be in violation of a family violence protective order issued in March, which prohibited him from coming within 300 yards of Alana or her home. He was initially arrested for this violation before facing capital murder charges later in the week.
Detective N. Hopkins noted in a bail request that Spencer was the common-law spouse of the victim’s mother. The capital murder charges were filed after investigators determined that Spencer was the sole caregiver present during the fatal incident and had provided several inconsistent statements to authorities.
Spencer remains in custody, while Child Protective Services has taken custody of another child living in the home.
