HOUSTON, Texas – A 21-year-old mother has been arrested following allegations that she killed her 2-year-old daughter.
On Friday, Jasmine Latson surrendered to authorities after being informed by her attorney, Kenneth Allen, that a warrant had been issued for her arrest.
She has since been charged with capital murder in connection with her daughter’s, Zayla Laitkep, death in April. She has since posted a $1 million bond.
The charges were filed after an investigation conducted by detectives from the Wharton Police Department and the Texas Rangers.
Hours after Wharton PD announced the arrest of Latson, the law office claiming to represent the mother made a counter post, claiming its clients’ innocence. The attorney, Allen, said his office has yet to see “evidence, proof or an autopsy.”
“We are aware of the post made by the Wharton Police Department announcing the arrest of Jasmine in connection with a capital murder charge.
Let us be clear: Jasmine denies these accusations and maintains her innocence. We have seen no evidence, no proof, not even an autopsy report—yet law enforcement has rushed to arrest her without transparency or accountability.
Unfortunately, this is not new. This is a pattern we’ve seen before from both the Wharton Police Department and the Wharton County District Attorney’s Office—where haste, politics, and pressure take priority over fairness, facts, and due process.
This recent social media post is not simply a public update—it is a calculated effort to poison the jury pool and taint Jasmine’s right to a fair trial. It sends a message that guilt has already been decided before a single piece of credible evidence has been presented in court.
These kinds of injustices have become all too familiar in Wharton County, and the citizens should be fed up. Our community deserves better. Jasmine deserves better. And the justice system demands better.
We remain committed to defending Jasmine vigorously and exposing the truth. We will have more to say in time—but for now, we ask the public to honor the presumption of innocence and reject trial by social media. #JusticeforJass #ForeverZayla," the post read.