A 32-year-old man is being held without bond as his case moves toward trial in connection with the death of a 3-year-old girl found dead in Florida last week.

Jeroen Coombs, 32, is charged with aggravated child abuse in connection with the death of Paisley Brown.

Investigators with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said Coombs is the boyfriend of Paisley’s mother.

Coombs’ attorney requested bond, but Judge Peter Brigham denied the request, citing the suspect’s failure to appear to a hearing in a 2019 case as one of the reasons for the ruling.

Investigators said Coombs confessed to binding and caging Paisley before punching her.

Paisley was found dead in Citra on Thursday.

The judge addressed the case during the hearing.

“I don’t know what is going on with the mom in this whole thing, but what I’ve heard so far is that there is a little 3-year-old girl, she’s bound, legs and hands, and essentially gets beaten to death somehow,” Brigham described.

Deputies are continuing to investigate the girl’s death and other abuse that allegedly occurred in the home. Investigators expect to file additional charges against Coombs.

Officials are also working to determine what Paisley’s mother knew about the abuse and find out why it took 40 minutes for 911 to be called after she learned the toddler was unresponsive.

‘Loving, goofy’ toddler, 3, died painful death after her mother let new boyfriend move into family home

A ‘loving, goofy’ three-year-old girl has suffered a painful death in Florida after her mother let her boyfriend move into their home despite his alleged history of abuse.

Paisley Brown was found unresponsive at around 12pm Thursday after she was brutally beaten by her mother’s boyfriend, Jeroen Jarrel Coombs, police have said.

Coombs admitted to detectives that he bound the toddler’s hands with a robe tie and her legs with painter’s tape at the Citra home, according to the sheriff’s office.

The 32-year-old claimed he had restrained Paisley to keep her from reaching into her diaper the night before.

While the defenseless child was bound, Coombs said he picked her up and dropped her on the floor.

It was then that Paisley began gasping for air and Coombs said he started striking the toddler multiple times, according to the sheriff’s office.

Coombs has been charged with felonious aggravated child abuse and child cruelty, with pending additional charges.

Four more children also live at the home, and their mother allowed Coombs to move in and left Paisley alone with him despite his alleged history of violence.

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During questioning, Coombs told deputies that he realized he ‘took it too far’ during the incident with Paisley, and said he had been too scared to call 911.

As emergency services responded to reports of the unresponsive toddler, Coombs allegedly attempted to leave the scene before he was brought in for questioning.

Paisley was transported to the hospital where she later died from her injuries, the sheriff’s office said.

Investigators later discovered that Coombs had been left alone with the children that morning.

Just before 11am, Coombs had let Paisley’s mom know that the child wasn’t responding, according to the sheriff’s office.

But it wasn’t until around 40 minutes later that a 911 call was made.

The four other children living in the home have been placed into custody by the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Coombs admitted to detectives that he bound the toddler’s hands with a robe tie and her legs with painter’s tape at the Citra home, pictured above, according to the sheriff’s office

A child told law enforcement that he heard Coombs strike Paisley and said there had been ‘prior physical abuse by Coombs’ at the home, per the sheriff’s office.

A protest broke out in Citra on Saturday, during which Paisley’s father, Robert Brown, told the crowd: ‘Paisley, she’s amazing.

‘She’s a loving person, who’s always happy and goofy.’

Organizers are calling for Paisley’s mother to also face charges in relation to the incident, WOWT reported.

‘I respect our law enforcement, but I’ve seen countless situations in Marion County where arrests are prolonged for months or even years,’ Carley Santana, a protest organizer, told the outlet.

‘I don’t think somebody should be walking free without at least being taken in, questioned and determined [responsible] by an officer.’

Paisley’s father wrote on Facebook that he was a ‘devoted dad’ who has been ‘overwhelmed with emotions.’

‘Every time I glance at my phone, I’m reminded of my precious Paisley, breaking down like a baby all over again,’ he said.

‘Like any loving father would, I’ve felt the weight of this moment deeply.’

‘However, I’ve come to realize that I need to find strength and be the rock Paisley needs.

‘I want to share with everyone how blessed I’ve been to have such an incredible daughter in my life.’

He described Paisley as an ‘extraordinary individual, radiating happiness and joy wherever she went.’

‘Her playful nature touched countless hearts,’ he added.

‘Though it’s devastating that I have to bid farewell, I want to acknowledge the love we shared, and I’m filled with regret that circumstances didn’t allow me to provide for you and your mom kept you guys from me.’

Coombs was booked into Marion County Jail without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on March 24, 2026, according to jail records.

The Daily Mail reached out to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for comment.