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Watertown Couple Formally Charged in Death of 2-Year-Old Girl
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By Chris O’Neil
Trash Media Group
May 6, 2025

WATERTOWN — A Watertown man and his partner have been formally charged in the death of a 2-year-old girl following a months-long investigation into what authorities now confirm was a homicide.

According to a press release issued Monday by the Watertown Police Department, 36-year-old Thomas Everett Rose II and 24-year-old Sarah Mikaylah Waterman have been indicted in connection with the December 2024 death of Aurora Wiles, the child of Waterman.

Police responded to 935 State Street, Apartment 1, at 10:52 a.m. on December 6 for a report of an unconscious and unresponsive child. Upon arrival, they found the toddler deceased. The Onondaga County Medical Examiner’s Office later determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma, describing the circumstances as suspicious.

The case was brought before a Jefferson County grand jury by the District Attorney’s Office, resulting in multiple indictment warrants signed by Judge David Renzi.



Rose, who was already in custody at the Jefferson County Correctional Facility on unrelated charges, was formally charged on May 1 with murder in the second degree, manslaughter in both the first and second degrees, assault in the first degree, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. He is being held on $100,000 bail.

Waterman, who resides at 25536 James Street in Calcium, was charged with criminally negligent homicide and one count of endangering the welfare of a child. She is being held on $15,000 bail.

Investigators say both individuals were arraigned in Jefferson County Court following the indictment.

The case has involved a broad coalition of law enforcement and child welfare agencies, including the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, Jefferson County and Onondaga County medical examiner offices, Guilfoyle Ambulance, Jefferson County Child Protective Services, and the Child Advocacy Center of Northern New York.



Police did not release further information about the timeline or circumstances that led to Aurora’s fatal injuries. However, the severity and range of charges against both defendants suggest an ongoing and violent environment in which the child suffered.

Both Rose and Waterman are expected to appear in court in the coming weeks as the legal process continues.

The Watertown Police Department urges anyone with further information about the case to contact investigators.

 


 

Timeline of Events

  • December 6, 2024 — Watertown Police respond to 935 State St. at 10:52 a.m. for reports of an unconscious toddler. Aurora Wiles is found dead at the scene.

  • December 2024 – April 2025 — A multi-agency investigation is conducted. The Onondaga County Medical Examiner rules the cause of death as blunt force trauma.

  • May 1, 2025 — A Jefferson County Grand Jury issues indictment warrants for Thomas Everett Rose II and Sarah Waterman. Both are formally charged in Jefferson County Court.

May 6, 2025 — Watertown Police publicly announce the arrests and charges.


 

Trash Media Group © 2025

https://www.trashmediagroup.com

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Watertown City Police Arrests – July 8–16, 2025

Cathleen Irene Howard (55) – Arrested July 12 at Kinney Drugs, Coffeen St., for Petit Larceny after allegedly stealing \$16.24 worth of merchandise. Released with an appearance ticket for July 28.

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Name: Ricky Hans Pierce, 56
Address: 522 Emerson St, Watertown, NY
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Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree (Class E Felony)** – On May 29 at approximately 1:30 a.m., Pierce allegedly damaged property valued at \$1,379.75 at Aminomax LLC, 810 Waterman Dr, including forced entry into bait boxes, a mailbox, and a laboratory drop box.
Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree (Class A Misdemeanor)
Attempted Criminal Trespass 2nd Degree (Class B Misdemeanor) – On July 7 at approximately 9:26 p.m., officers responded to a residence at 538 Emerson St for a reported disturbance. Pierce allegedly attempted to break into a residence by shattering a window, screen, and blinds after being told not to enter.


Name: Charles William Howard Jr., 57
Address: 140 N Meadow St, Apt 3, Watertown, NY
Charge:
Menacing in the 3rd Degree (Class B Misdemeanor) – On July 5 at approximately 10:38 p.m., officers were called to the defendant’s residence for a ...

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Luke Allen Bohn, 35, of 896 S Massey St, Watertown, NY, was arrested at 11:32 p.m. on June 3, 2025, and charged with:

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Watertown Police Department – Arrest Blotter - 07/25/25

Kyle Michael Matthews, 31
Charge: Grand Larceny 3rd Degree (Class D Felony)
Details:Arrested at 4:45 AM at 200 W Main St. Matthews, listed as homeless, allegedly stole a 2015 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R motorcycle valued at \$9,000 from 233 Mill Street.
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Brooklynn Marie Batsford
Charge: Bench Warrant – Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd Degree (Class D Felony)
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 Aaron Loomis Rutter, 39
Charges:

 Assault 2nd Degree (Class D Felony)
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 Court: Arraigned in Watertown City Court
 Arresting Officer: Hayley E. Maguire

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Billy Joe Barnett-Martin
Charges:

Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 3rd Degree
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Amanda Lynn Serrano, 42
Charges:

Criminal Mischief 4th Degree (Class A Misdemeanor)
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Broken Promises and Shattered Trust: How VShojo Collapsed in Scandal and Betrayal

By Atticus Trash | Trash Media Group


What started as one of VTubing’s boldest experiments—a talent-first agency built on freedom and transparency—has ended in disgrace, bankruptcy, and legal questions that could shake the industry. VShojo, once celebrated for putting creators first, now stands accused of withholding over $500,000 in charity funds, failing to pay its own talent, and leaving fans and vendors out thousands of dollars on unfulfilled merchandise orders.

The collapse didn’t happen overnight. It’s a story of broken promises, mismanagement, and a desperate gamble that turned into the most explosive scandal VTubing has ever seen.

VShojo launched in 2020 with a unique pitch: unlike other agencies that owned talent IP and dictated every move, VShojo promised freedom and fair pay. Its CEO, Justin “Gunrun” Ignacio, a Twitch founding engineer, sold creators on transparency and trust.

For years, it worked—or at least it looked like it did. Talent rosters grew, conventions featured VShojo panels, and collaborations with major brands made headlines. But the seeds of collapse were planted in September 2024, when VShojo’s brightest star, Ironmouse, decided to break records for a cause close to her heart.

On September 2, 2024, Ironmouse launched a marathon Twitch subathon that would shatter all records: over 300,000 subscriptions, millions of views, and a tidal wave of community goodwill. But this wasn’t just a personal milestone.

It was pitched as a charity event. Half of all revenue from the subathon would go to the Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF)—a cause deeply personal to Ironmouse, who has lived her entire adult life battling a severe immune disorder.


 

The promise wasn’t rumor—it came straight from VShojo leadership:

“Half of the streaming revenue during the Subathon will be donated.” — Justin Ignacio, CEO of VShojo

 

 


This public commitment set the tone for the entire campaign. Fans subscribed, donated, and spread the word, believing they were funding a life-saving mission.

The final tally? More than $500,000 promised to IDF.

But over a year later, the IDF hadn’t seen a dime.

On July 21, 2025, Ironmouse announced her immediate departure from VShojo in a heartbreaking statement, citing “broken trust” and confirming that the promised charity donation was never delivered.


                                         

Her words were blunt:

“I cannot continue to be part of an organization that has withheld funds raised for a charity so close to my heart.”

 


Fans were stunned. Other VShojo talents began quietly removing branding from their profiles. Rumors of NDAs and unpaid wages poured in. And then the dam broke.

Two days later, Justin Ignacio released a statement admitting full responsibility for VShojo’s failure and announcing the company’s shutdown.

 


“I acknowledge that some of the money spent by the company was raised in connection with talent activity, which I later learned was intended for a charitable initiative… At the time, we were working hard to raise additional investment capital

to cover our costs… We were unsuccessful.”

 


But here’s the problem: Justin knew. The receipts don’t lie. That October tweet promising charity wasn’t a misinterpretation. It was a deliberate, public pledge.

This isn’t just bad optics—it’s potential misappropriation of charitable funds, a serious legal and ethical violation.

As more creators broke silence, a grim picture emerged:

Kson: unpaid since September 2024.

Projekt Melody, Zentreya, Haruka Karibu, GEEGA, Henya: reported late or missing payments, forced silence under strict NDAs.

VeiBae: exposed internal secrets after NDAs collapsed, confirming a toxic, financially desperate environment.

What started as one person’s fight for accountability became a mass exodus.

If you thought it ended there, think again. Enter MKRO + Infinikey, the companies behind VShojo’s high-end keyboard collabs. Their July 24 statement revealed a new layer of the scandal:

 


“All sales and transactions were managed exclusively through the VShojo store… At this time, we have not received an order from VShojo and are actively working to gain clarity.”


 

Translation: VShojo took fan money for merch, never paid the vendor, and never delivered product details. This includes:

Pre-orders for Projekt Melody and Henya keycap sets.

Earlier in-stock sales for Ironmouse, Zentreya, and Haruka—likely including anime convention sales.

Fans are now scrambling for refunds, with many turning to chargebacks. This isn’t just mismanagement—it’s edging into consumer fraud territory.

By July 25, it was over. VShojo formally announced it was shutting down, citing lack of funds after burning through $11 million in investment.

 


Justin’s final words to the community?

   “I am deeply sorry… You did not deserve this.”

 


But apologies can’t erase the fact that talents were unpaid, fans were left hanging, and charity funds never reached their destination.

Justin’s Oct 2024 Tweet: Promises half of Ironmouse’s subathon revenue to IDF.

Justin’s July 2025 Shutdown Statement: Claims he only “later learned” funds were for charity.

Both can’t be true. And the timeline suggests something worse: VShojo used earmarked donations as a last-ditch lifeline to keep the lights on.

So what comes next for Vshojo now that operations have ceased?

Legal Trouble: Misuse of charitable funds can trigger state AG investigations and lawsuits.

Civil Liability: Fans and vendors may pursue action for unfulfilled merch orders.

Industry Impact: Sponsors will rethink deals. Creators will demand transparency—and agencies will face scrutiny like never before.

Meanwhile, Ironmouse has raised over $1 million for IDF through a new Tiltify campaign—proving the community’s faith in creators, even as agencies fail them.

 


Donations continue to flood into ironmouse's charity page, the proceeds going to the Immune Deficiency Foundation.

 

VShojo promised a revolution. Instead, it delivered the biggest betrayal VTubing has ever seen. Let this be the warning: without transparency and accountability, even the brightest stars can be dragged into darkness.


Trash Media Group © 2025

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WATERTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT – DAILY ARREST SUMMARY

 

Amber Lee Burns, 34, Homeless – Charged with Trespass after officers observed her unlawfully remaining on posted city property at Factory Square Park. She was issued an appearance ticket returnable to City Court on July 28 at 9:00 a.m.

James Stuart Davis, 46, of 204 Winslow St, Watertown – Arrested on multiple occasions:

    • July 21: Charged with Menacing in the 3rd Degree following a domestic incident in which he allegedly threatened a woman with a vacuum cleaner tube.

    • July 21 (later the same day): Charged with an additional count of Menacing in the 3rd Degree after reportedly yelling threats to kill the same woman, causing her to barricade herself.

    • July 23: Charged with Criminal Contempt in the 2nd Degree for violating a stay-away order of protection. Davis was found in the protected party’s bedroom.

Xavier Emillel Mantock, 33, of 245 Central St, Watertown – Arrested July 21 and charged with:

    • Obstruction of Governmental Administration 2nd

    • Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th

    • Disorderly Conduct
      Officers responded to a complaint involving a knife; Mantock reportedly resisted a lawful frisk and was observed chasing a male with a knife and pole while yelling threats.

Christopher Allen Jesmer, 48, of 526 Curtis St, Watertown – Arrested July 21 and charged with:

    • Petit Larceny for stealing a bicycle from the roof of a vehicle.

    • Criminal Mischief 4th for slashing the tires of the same bicycle.

Billy Joe Kyne, 48, Homeless – Arrested July 22 and charged with Reckless Endangerment in the 1st Degree, a Class D felony. Kyne is accused of pushing a full-sized refrigerator off a third-story balcony, placing individuals below at grave risk.

Colby James Lacomb, 41, of 119 Girard Ave, Watertown – Arrested and charged with:

    • Harassment 2nd: Physical Contact

    • Endangering the Welfare of a Child
      Lacomb allegedly struck a 12-year-old with a charging cable, leaving visible injury.

Kshaun Tyrone Murphy, 31, of 515 Bradley St, Apt 6, Watertown – Arrested July 23 for Criminal Trespass in the 2nd Degree after entering a condemned and clearly marked residence.

Jonathan Eric Labarge – Arrested July 23 on an active bench warrant issued by Watertown City Court for Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest.

Daniel Eugene Keruskie, 47, of Glen Park – Arrested for Petit Larceny after allegedly stealing merchandise valued at $19.99 from Ace Hardware.

Kelly Marie Devoe, of Watertown – Cited for Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Insurance and Driving with a Suspended Registration. She was issued traffic tickets and released, with a court appearance scheduled for August 6.

 

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