Grandparents still waiting for justice after death of 3-year-old ruled a homicide

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — More than a year after their three-year-old granddaughter’s death was ruled a homicide, two grandparents in Leland are still seeking justice. 

Wilmington Police confirmed the investigation into the death Ailani Jackson in January.  

In March 2024, Ailani was rushed to Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center by her parents with life-threatening injuries.  

Despite emergency surgery, Ailani died from complications relating to a “small bowel perforation,” according to her death certificate. 

An autopsy initially wasn’t performed by the hospital until WPD requested it. While Novant doctors disagreed, the chief medical examiner ruled the death a homicide due to “blunt force injuries of the torso.” 

More than a year later, and with no arrests made, Ailani’s grandparents Tiffany Walker and Darius Brunson are still waiting for answers.  

“You see this all of the time, but when it hits you’re front door, it’s different. It’s very confusing that (we) still don’t know what happened,” Walker said. 

Walker and Brunson say they took Ailani to the hospital with physical injuries five times before her death, but never received clear answers about how she got hurt.  

“We always asked questions of ‘Why this?’ or ‘Why that,’” Walker noted. 

“It was always ‘I don’t know,’ that was the answer,” Brunson recalled. 

Walker began taking photos, documenting a busted lip, burns, and bruises.  

She believes medical professionals failed to recognize the signs of possible abuse. 

“If you see something and you let it go by, then stuff like this happens,” Walker said. “For example, like I said, for Ailani, we kept taking her back and forth to the hospital. For me that should have been a red flag.” 

A WPD spokesperson says the department cannot provide any updates on the investigation. 

WWAY also reached out to District Attorney Jason Smith about the investigation and asked Novant Health what their policy on suspected abuse is but have not yet heard back. 

If you or anyone you know has information regarding Ailani’s death, please contact the WPD at (910) 343-3609 or anonymously using Tip 411.