Former Concord Father Arrested for Allegedly Murdering His Daughter

CONCORD, NH — Just weeks before the one-year anniversary of her death, an arrest has been made in the Concord homicide case of Jayleah Bureau, 3, in March 2016, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader. Jocarl Bureau, 22, of Manchester, was arrested on Feb. 24, 2017, on a reckless second-degree injury leading to a child’s death.

Editor’s Note: This post was derived from information supplied by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for NH Patch police reports.

Limited information is available about the death of Jayleah Bureau, who passed away on March 15, 2016, after Concord Police and Fire and Rescue teams were sent to Canton Circle for a report of an unresponsive female child. At the time, police refused to comment on why there was police action at the home. The girl was transported to Concord Hospital to be treated but was pronounced dead at the hospital. The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office deemed a homicide due to blunt force trauma the next day after an autopsy.

In her obituary, family noted that Bureau loved singing and dancing around the house. A service was held on March 23, and grandmother raised more than $7,000 to pay for burial expenses in a GoFundMe.com effort to pay for funeral costs. She noted that Jayleah Bureau was “an angel since birth” and was always smiling and laughing.

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A week later after the service, Jocarl Bureau was arrested on warrants for nonappearance in court on May 20, 2014, on a criminal threatening charge, $1,000 cash bail, as well as a Manchester Police Department warrant for contempt of court from March 30, 2016. He was held on $5,000 cash bail.

While in jail, Jocarl Bureau reportedly made a phone call to a woman, according to an affidavit. During the conversation, he allegedly became “extremely irate and on more than one occasion told (the woman) that (another woman) was responsible for his incarceration,” the court affidavit alleged.

“When I get out of here, I’m going to punch (that woman) in her face,” Bureau allegedly stated, according to a detective’s transcription of the recorded phone call.

Bureau allegedly added, “I guarantee, I’m gonna give all you n-----s a reason to call the police … I swear to God, watch.”

Another affidavit was issued against Jocarl Bureau – for stalking and criminal threatening.

In August, after the investigation into her death had stalled, the NH AG requested the public’s help in solving the Jayleah Bureau homicide case.

But by mid-September, more charges were lodged against Jocarl Bureau after detectives began investigating his social media accounts. He was arrested two counts of assault, two counts of domestic violence-simple assault, attempt to commit simple assault, and two counts of default or breach of bail conditions, after discovering that he had allegedly assaulted Jayleah Bureau’s mother while she was pregnant with their daughter. Videos of Bureau allegedly posting with a gun were posted on Facebook leading to bail violations, as well as other information.

On Nov. 2, 2016, Jocarl Bureau – who was still in jail – was charged with conspiracy to commit and two counts of criminal solicitation to commit after alleged incidents at the Merrimack County House of Corrections.

It is unknown, at post time, how Jocarl Bureau managed to post bail or even be allowed out of the Merrimack County House of Corrections, with so many charges lodged against him since the death of his daughter.

A previous history of violence

Jocarl Bureau is no stranger to police, according to his previous arrest history and police investigations into allegations against him.

In April 2014, while living on Perley Street in Concord, Jocarl Bureau was arrested for two counts of simple assault, criminal mischief, reckless conduct-place another in danger, and warrants, after reportedly flicking hamburger pan grease in his mother’s face after an argument about a ride to his diversion program. He also allegedly threw a plate against a microwave causing it to break. According to the arrest report, Jocarl Bureau began to collect some items before leaving and allegedly pushed his mother, blaming it later on a door that hit her as he was leaving. The warrants were for domestic violence-criminal threatening in Manchester and simple assault and reckless conduct in Concord.

According to the Union Leader, he was arrested in February 2012 for felonious sexual assault of a teenager the previous October at a party. The victim, according to the report, said she kissed him but didn’t agree to have sex with him. At the time, Jocarl Bureau played basketball for West High School but was suspended from the team due to the allegation. An indictment in the case was not sought and the victim told the newspaper she didn’t want to press charges.

Back in June 2011, the Union Leader also reported that Jocarl Bureau was arrested for disorderly conduct and assaulting a police officer while his mother was arrested for second-degree assault and reckless conduct after allegedly attempting to run over people on Mammoth Road with her vehicle after an argument.

Read the full Union Leader story at unionleader.com.

Credits: Concord Police Department, Dignity.com, and GoFundMe.com.