Remembering Julian

Julian M. Adams-LaCas was only six months old. He was born on July 13, 2008, in Denver, Colorado. Julian had bright blue eyes and was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, which made feeding him more difficult. He was a baby brother in a family with three older siblings. He should have had years ahead of him to grow, learn, play, and discover the world around him. Instead, Julian's life ended before he ever reached his first birthday. Julian was completely dependent on the adults around him to feed him, comfort him, protect him, and keep him safe. He deserved that protection.

Julian's story

Julian's mother, Krista Adams, described a troubled home before her son's death. She said she had experienced domestic violence from Julian's father, Justin Taylor, while she was pregnant. She also described Taylor as having problems with rage and said he could become frustrated while feeding Julian. That detail mattered because feeding Julian required additional patience due to his cleft lip and palate. In February 2009, Julian was left alone with his father while his mother went job hunting with her sister. When his mother returned, something was terribly wrong. She said that when she picked Julian up, he made an unusual muffled cry. He could no longer hold his head up, and his legs had become stiff. Julian had suffered devastating trauma to his head and neck. His injuries were attributed to violent shaking or a combination of shaking and impact. He was only six months old. Taylor gave multiple explanations for what had happened. At one point, he blamed Julian's 19 month old sister, claiming she had dropped a book on Julian or stepped on his head. In another account, Taylor used an expletive while referring to his infant son and claimed Julian had kicked him, causing him to accidentally drop the baby. He later told police that Julian may have forcefully fallen from his arms. The explanations changed. Julian's injuries remained.  The six month old baby ultimately died from blunt trauma to his head and neck. On February 4, 2009, Julian M. Adams-LaCas died at Children's Hospital in Aurora, Colorado.

The Warning Signs

There were warning signs in Julian's life before his death. His mother said Taylor had rage problems. She said he became frustrated while feeding Julian. She reported experiencing domestic violence at Taylor's hands during her pregnancy. Julian was also an infant with additional feeding needs who required patience and gentle care from the adults responsible for him. After Julian was critically injured, there was another warning sign that should never be ignored when a child is hurt: the explanation for his injuries kept changing. A sibling was blamed. Then an accidental drop was described. Then another explanation was given about Julian falling from his father's arms. When a baby's injuries are severe and the explanation for those injuries changes, does not make sense developmentally, or does not match the medical evidence, those inconsistencies matter. So does violence between adults in a child's home. So does uncontrolled rage. So does an adult becoming excessively angry or frustrated while providing basic care to an infant. Babies cannot remove themselves from dangerous homes. They cannot call for help. They cannot explain what someone has done to them. Adults have to recognize the danger before a baby like Julian pays the price.

​Justice for Julian

Person Convicted: Justin Taylor
Relationship to Julian: Father
Conviction: Child Abuse Resulting in Death

Sentence: 48 Years in Prison

Justin Taylor was held responsible for the abuse that ended his six month old son's life. Taylor had given multiple explanations for Julian's catastrophic injuries. At different points, Julian's 19 month old sister was blamed, an accidental drop was described, and another explanation involved Julian falling from his father's arms. But Julian's injuries told a different story. Julian had suffered devastating blunt trauma to his head and neck, injuries attributed to violent shaking or a combination of shaking and impact. Taylor was ultimately convicted of child abuse resulting in death and sentenced to 48 years in prison. Julian's mother, Krista Adams, later described Taylor's behavior following their son's death. She said that he showed little visible emotion. She remembered seeing no tears and said that at times he even attempted to joke while speaking. For Julian's family, a prison sentence could provide accountability, but it could never undo what had been done. Forty eight years could not give Julian his first birthday. It could not give his siblings their baby brother back. It could not give his mother the chance to watch her son grow. And it could never give Julian the childhood he deserved.Justice meant accountability. It could never mean getting Julian back.

Forever Remembered

Julian M. Adams-LaCas was not simply the six month old victim at the center of a child abuse case. He was a baby. A son. A brother. A little boy with bright blue eyes who had only been in this world for a matter of months. His obituary named the family who remained after his death, including his brothers Ryan and Tyler and his sister Dylann. His family established a memorial fund in his name and gathered to say goodbye to a baby who should never have needed a funeral. Julian should have learned to crawl. He should have taken his first steps. He should have learned to talk . He should have celebrated birthdays, started school, annoyed his older siblings, made friends, and grown into the person he was supposed to become. He never got those chances. Julian's story is difficult to read because the reality of what can happen behind closed doors is difficult to confront. But babies cannot speak for themselves. We can speak Julian's name. We can remember the warning signs. And we can refuse to look away. Julian M. Adams-LaCas mattered. And he will never be forgotten.