REMEMBERING JULIAN & GISELLE

Julian and Giselle Romero were five month old twins whose lives ended together on May 10, 2012, in Chicago, Illinois.

Born prematurely in November 2011, Julian and Giselle were the youngest children in a household of six.

Julian was a baby boy, and Giselle was his twin sister. They had barely begun experiencing the world when their lives were cut short.

The twins died from asphyxia associated with unsafe sleeping conditions after being placed together on their stomachs in a crib containing multiple blankets and other objects.

Their deaths prompted an investigation by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, which had already been involved with the family.

The investigation ultimately resulted in an administrative finding of death by neglect against their mother.

Julian and Giselle's Story

Julian and Giselle were born in November 2011 to Veronica Rodriguez and Josue Romero.

The family lived in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, where the parents were raising six young children in a shared household.

The twins arrived prematurely and required regular medical appointments during their first months.

Their family had been receiving assistance from Illinois DCFS, including parenting support and help obtaining supplies for the babies.

The agency provided two portable cribs and two car seats.

Julian and Giselle attended medical appointments in December 2011 and January and February 2012.

However, the family struggled to maintain appointments as the demands of caring for six young children increased.

On the night of May 9, 2012, Veronica fed the twins and initially placed Julian in a car seat and Giselle in a swing.

During the night, both babies awoke.

Veronica changed their diapers and later placed Giselle on her stomach in a crib.

After Julian woke again around 3:30 a.m., she fed him and placed him on his stomach beside his sister.

A large fleece blanket was placed over both babies.

The crib also contained additional blankets, comforters, a bumper pad, a plush toy, a child's coat, and car seat covers.

According to the later child protection investigation, Veronica had sometimes placed the twins together on their stomachs because they slept better that way, despite having received warnings about unsafe sleep practices.

On the morning of May 10, Veronica discovered Julian and Giselle unresponsive.

Both babies were lying face down beside each other, covered by a large fleece blanket.

She attempted to revive them.

Josue had been taking the older children to school and returned home to find Veronica distraught.

He also attempted to help the babies.

Emergency responders were called to the family's home on West 25th Street.

Despite attempts to save them, Julian and Giselle could not be revived.

Both were pronounced dead that morning.

They were only five months old.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's initial autopsy findings were inconclusive, and additional testing was requested.

Subsequent child fatality reporting identified the cause of their deaths as asphyxia due to unsafe sleeping conditions.

The loss of both twins devastated their family and prompted a renewed investigation into the circumstances surrounding their care.

Warning Signs and System Failures

Illinois DCFS had been involved with the household before Julian and Giselle were born.

In March 2011, the agency investigated allegations that one of Veronica's older children had suffered bruising while in the care of that child's father, who was not Julian and Giselle's father.

That investigation resulted in findings concerning the older child's father.

DCFS subsequently opened a family support case involving Veronica and her children.

The family received assistance with parenting, household needs, and other services.

As the household expanded to six young children, the parents reported feeling overwhelmed.

Despite these difficulties, they participated in some services and received supplies intended to help them care for the twins.

In September 2011, Veronica informed her caseworker that she was pregnant with twins.

Julian and Giselle were born prematurely that November.

DCFS provided two portable cribs so that the babies could sleep separately.

The twins attended medical appointments during their first three months.

However, in March 2012, their parents missed three medical appointments despite reminders and efforts to reschedule.

Medical staff contacted the child protection hotline to report concerns about possible medical neglect.

The parents later explained that transportation difficulties and childcare responsibilities had made attending appointments challenging.

In April 2012, Julian and Giselle were taken to a physician.

The neglect investigation was still pending when the twins died the following month.

Following their deaths, the agency indicated the medical neglect report.

Investigators also examined the circumstances of the twins' sleeping arrangements.

The babies had been placed together on their stomachs in a crib containing multiple loose blankets and other objects.

Their mother acknowledged that she had previously been warned about the dangers of placing infants to sleep on their stomachs.

The child protection investigation concluded that the unsafe sleeping conditions contributed to the deaths.

DCFS indicated Veronica Rodriguez for death by neglect and substantial risk of physical injury to the surviving children.

Josue Romero was indicated for substantial risk of physical injury.

The four surviving children were removed from the household. Veronica's children were placed with relatives, while Josue's children went to live with their mother.

The findings raised concerns about the effectiveness of earlier interventions, the need for ongoing safe sleep education, and the importance of ensuring that families receiving support can consistently follow essential infant safety practices.

JUSTICE FOR JULIAN & GISELLE

Following Julian and Giselle's deaths, Chicago police and Illinois DCFS opened investigations.

The Cook County Medical Examiner initially reported that the autopsy findings were inconclusive.

Subsequent child fatality reporting identified asphyxia caused by unsafe sleeping conditions.

DCFS determined that the circumstances supported an administrative finding of death by neglect against Veronica Rodriguez.

The agency also found that both parents had placed the surviving children at substantial risk of physical injury.

These findings resulted in protective action involving the other children.

However, an indicated child protection finding is not the same as a criminal conviction.

The available reporting does not establish that Veronica Rodriguez or Josue Romero was criminally convicted in connection with the twins' deaths.

Veronica Rodriguez

Relationship to Julian and Giselle: Mother

Finding: DCFS indicated finding of death by neglect and substantial risk of physical injury to the surviving children

Criminal conviction(s): None verified in connection with the twins' deaths

Sentence: None verified

Josue Romero

Relationship to Julian and Giselle: Father

Finding: DCFS indicated finding of substantial risk of physical injury to the surviving children

Criminal conviction(s): None verified in connection with the twins' deaths

Sentence: None verified

The findings concerning the parents were administrative child protection determinations, not criminal judgments.

Julian and Giselle's case remains an example of fatal neglect involving unsafe infant sleeping conditions and the importance of acting upon known risks.

FOREVER REMEMBERED

Julian and Giselle Romero entered the world together in November 2011.

They were a baby brother and sister who shared the first five months of their lives.

They should have had the opportunity to grow up together.

There should have been first smiles, first words, and first steps.

They should have celebrated their first birthday surrounded by family.

As twins, Julian and Giselle might have shared countless childhood experiences while developing their own personalities, interests, and dreams.

They deserved the chance to discover who they would become.

Instead, their lives ended on the same morning, before either had reached six months of age.

Much of the public information about Julian and Giselle concerns the investigation into their deaths.

There are few published details about their individual personalities or the everyday moments their family shared with them.

But Julian and Giselle were more than the circumstances in which they died.

Julian was a little boy whose life mattered.

Giselle was a little girl whose life mattered.

They were siblings, twins, and two children who deserved to grow up in safety.

Their deaths underscore the importance of safe sleeping environments for infants, including placing babies on their backs in separate, uncluttered sleep spaces.

No family should have to experience the loss of two babies in a single morning.

Julian and Giselle deserved long lives filled with love, comfort, and opportunity.

They deserved to celebrate birthdays, attend school, make friends, and grow older together.

Although their lives were brief, both children deserve to be remembered as individuals.

Their names belong together in memory, just as they belonged together in life.

Abuse Angels remembers Julian Romero and Giselle Romero.

Remembered. Honored. Never Forgotten.