Woman Held in Fatal Beating of Niece, 2 1/2, Igniting Room

A Long Beach woman accused of beating to death her 2 1/2-year-old niece and then setting the girl’s room on fire to hide the crime was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of murder, Long Beach police said.

Sandra Jackson, 29, was taken into custody on the basis of evidence found at the scene of the fire and statements that she and her sons, aged 4 and 11, made to police, said Detective George Fox, who is investigating the case.

Fox would not discuss details of the statements, but said it appeared that Jackson had ignited a stuffed animal under her niece’s crib to disguise the fact that the girl had been beaten to death.

“Everything indicates the child was dead prior to the fire,” Fox said. “There were injuries to the little girl that were not consistent with fire or smoke inhalation.” The official cause of death will be determined by an autopsy, the detective added.

The dead girl was identified as Jeseka Jackson. She had lived with Sandra Jackson in an apartment on Temple Avenue in Long Beach since the girl’s mother--Sandra Jackson’s sister--died two years ago, police said. Sandra Jackson’s sons, who also lived in the apartment, were placed in protective custody after their mother’s arrest, Fox said.

The fire was reported at 6:30 p.m. Monday. Long Beach Fire Department paramedics rushed Jeseka Jackson to St. Mary’s Hospital but she was pronounced dead on arrival, police said.

Sandra Jackson will be held without bail until the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office decides whether to file a murder charge against her, police said. Fox said he expects to present evidence in the case to prosecutors as soon as the autopsy is complete.