Mother Blames Social Workers After Baby Dies With Convicted Abuser in Home

A mother who knowingly let a convicted child abuser move into her home blames social services for allowing it before her baby was killed. Jessica Petty gave an astonishing interview after her four-month-old daughter Neveah died at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, on Wednesday. The infant suffered fatal head injuries and retinal hemorrhaging consistent with abuse and shaking.

Petty's lover Bobby Randall Conner is now charged with Neveah's murder. She knew he had a child abuse conviction from 2020 yet she still allowed him into the picture. Petty suggested social workers were to blame for Neveah's killing in an interview with NewsChannel5.

She told the outlet: 'I didn't do anything to my daughter, I was okayed by DCS (Department of Children's Services) to leave her with him.' If anything DCS should be the one answering why they would allow him to be around my kid.

Conner claimed he left Neveah on a bed to use the bathroom and that when he returned she was unresponsive. Doctors at the hospital reported to detectives that Neveah had suffered serious internal head injuries which included retinal hemorrhaging.

Neveah's mom Jessica blamed the DCS for her passing, saying they shouldn't have allowed Conner to be near her. When asked if she knew she was taking a risk by leaving the girl in the custody of her boyfriend, she said: 'No comment.'

Neveah's biological father Eddie Wagner told the outlet: 'It is my first daughter and to put my first daughter through all this, I am hurt.' According to Wagner he had pleaded with Petty to not leave his daughter with Conner but she ignored him. He added: 'I wanted [Jessica] to realize that this was not okay, she's stubborn and she don't really listen to other people.'

Wagner called the DCS, who responded to the address and found the youngster unharmed. While Petty has outraged many by saying the DCS told her it was fine to leave Conner with Neveah, the law does align with her comment. DCS would only have been allowed to remove Neveah from a home where Conner was living if he had previously been convicted of sexual abuse.

According to a statement released by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, Conner was taken into custody on Wednesday at a motel. Conner was originally facing a charge of aggravated abuse but that was upgraded to a murder charge, he is currently behind bars on a $500,000 bond.

Authorities said that Bobby Randall Conner was convicted of child neglect just last month and of child abuse in 2020. A GoFundMe has since been launched to help cover funeral costs for the little girl, with excess funds going to support Wagner.

A post to the fundraiser said: 'Precious baby girl Nevaeh Faith Wagner entered into the presence of the Lord on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 after being unalived by her mother's boyfriend, who was a repeat child abuse offender.' Please help us raise the funds needed to give Nevaeh a proper burial, as well as an honorable memorial service. Any additional funds received will go directly to assist the father to recoup funds during his time of bereavement.