Maya Thomas: Mother and Stepfather Charged in Paulsboro, NJ

Maya Thomas, a 9-year-old girl from Paulsboro, New Jersey, died on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, hours after her mother and stepfather called 911 and said she may have been hit by a car while walking the family dog. The Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office says the evidence does not support that account, and both adults are now charged with her murder.

Prosecutors say surveillance video showed no vehicle traffic at the time described, and doctors told investigators her injuries did not match a vehicle crash. Maya's family says she was not enrolled in any school and had been cut off from the relatives who raised her for most of her life. Her death has started a debate in Trenton about how little New Jersey asks of families who homeschool.

Who Was Maya Thomas?

Most of what is publicly known about Maya's early life comes from Lynn Miller, 73. Daily Voice describes her as Maya's great-grandmother, while Patch, citing NJ.com, calls her Maya's maternal grandmother. Miller told Daily Voice that she and her wife, Vicki Schleder, had earlier adopted Maya's mother, India, and India's three siblings.

According to Miller, Maya was born in Maui, Hawaii, while India was living with the couple. India later moved to Portland, Oregon, with her daughter and asked the couple, who by then lived in Las Vegas, Nevada, to look after Maya for three weeks. Miller says those three weeks turned into about five years. Maya came to them at around 18 months old and stayed until she was about seven.

"We loved her and tried to get her to safety," Lynn Miller told Daily Voice. She said the couple had adopted India and her siblings years earlier "so that they wouldn't go back into that environment."

How Did Maya End Up in New Jersey?

Miller told Daily Voice that about two years ago India took Maya from the couple's Las Vegas home in the middle of the night and moved to New Jersey to live with Sean Scott. Miller says that after the move she and her wife had no contact with Maya. Patch, citing NJ.com, also reports that Miller was cut off from communication with her granddaughter.

Miller says the couple contacted police and social services and looked into hiring a lawyer, but were told that without custody they had no legal grounds to step in. She also told Daily Voice that around September a person who visited the New Jersey home noticed signs of abuse and told the family, and that she then contacted the state's Department of Human Services but did not hear back. No agency has publicly confirmed receiving such a report, so this remains the family's account.

What Happened on October 13?

According to the prosecutor's office, Miller and Scott called for help at about 1 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13, saying a child at their home was not breathing. Scott told police Maya had been walking the dog and may have been struck by a vehicle, and that he went outside and found her by their shed. Miller told investigators she had heard a loud sound similar to tires screeching.

Maya was taken to a local hospital. Prosecutors say doctors there found injuries they described as not consistent with a vehicle crash. She was pronounced dead just before 7 p.m. that evening. The regional medical examiner for Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland counties ruled her death a homicide.

What Evidence Do Prosecutors Point To?

As reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer and FOX 29, prosecutors say surveillance video from nearby properties showed no vehicle traffic during the time of the reported crash. They say investigators collected evidence inside the home that did not fit the account of an accident outside.

The autopsy found injuries in different stages of healing, which prosecutors say suggests prolonged abuse. A 4-year-old sibling who lived in the home told investigators that Scott had hit Maya, according to the court documents described in news reports. That child has not been publicly identified, and MotiveX will not report anything further about the sibling.

Arrest and Charges

On Thursday, October 15, Gloucester County Prosecutor Andrew B. Johns announced charges against both adults. India Miller, 27, and Sean D. Scott, 45, are each charged with first-degree murder, first-degree accomplice to murder, two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, fourth-degree making a fictitious report to police and fourth-degree hindering prosecution. Both are held at the Salem County Jail. If convicted, they could face life in prison.

Miller and Scott are accused, not convicted, and are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Neither has made a public statement about the allegations in the reports reviewed for this article.

Why Was Maya Not in School?

Paulsboro Superintendent Phillip C. Neff Jr. wrote in a letter to the district that Maya was not enrolled in Paulsboro Public Schools, adding that the loss of a child is felt by the whole town. Lynn Miller told NJ.com that Maya was homeschooled by her mother and stepfather, and she claimed it was "because they didn't want anybody to see the bruises." That is Miller's view; prosecutors have not said why Maya was kept out of school.

On Friday, October 16, State Senators John Burzichelli, who represents Paulsboro, and Paul Moriarty released a joint statement. "New Jersey is one of only three states that have absolutely zero requirements for those who homeschool," they said. They added that "homeschooling works for thousands of families throughout our state," but that the lack of rules "leaves significant gaps in oversight that can allow signs of abuse or neglect to go unnoticed."

The senators also pointed to a case in Gloucester Township found about 17 months earlier, in which a homeschooled young woman was reportedly held captive for years and her mother and stepfather were charged. She survived. The two cases have renewed questions about whether a child who never sees a teacher, school nurse or counselor can slip out of view of every adult outside the home.

How Has Paulsboro Responded?

On the evening of Friday, October 16, neighbors and faith leaders held a candlelight vigil and balloon release near the 1500 block of Swedesboro Avenue, FOX 29 reported. Photos of Maya were placed on a fence near the family's home. Mayor John Giovannitti said he had spoken with Maya's grandmother. "The grandmom is hurting right now," he said, telling the crowd that a community that never knew Maya would stand for her that night. One speaker urged parents to "hug your kids a little more" when they got home.

Lynn Miller told Daily Voice that some people have blamed her family. "People are condemning us because they think we knew this whole time and did nothing," she said. "We will keep her in our family."

What Happens Next?

Miller and Scott made their first court appearance on Thursday, October 15, and remain in custody. No later court dates had been published in the reports reviewed for this article. The case still has to move through the New Jersey courts, and the defense has not yet responded publicly. At the Statehouse, Senators Burzichelli and Moriarty have called for a closer look at the gaps in homeschooling oversight that they say Maya's death exposed.

Anyone in New Jersey who suspects a child is being abused or neglected can call the state hotline at 1-877-NJ ABUSE (1-877-652-2873), open at all hours. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is 1-800-422-4453.

Timeline of the Maya Thomas Case

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is charged in Maya Thomas's death?

Her mother, India Miller, 27, and her stepfather, Sean D. Scott, 45, are each charged with first-degree murder and related offenses. Both are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

What did the couple tell police?

Prosecutors say Scott told police Maya was walking the dog and may have been hit by a vehicle, and Miller said she heard a sound like screeching tires.

Why do prosecutors reject the car crash account?

They say surveillance video showed no vehicle traffic at the time, doctors found injuries not consistent with a crash, and evidence inside the home did not fit the account.

Was Maya Thomas in school?

She was not enrolled in Paulsboro Public Schools. Her great-grandmother says she was homeschooled by her mother and stepfather.

What are the homeschooling rules in New Jersey?

State Senators Burzichelli and Moriarty say New Jersey is one of only three states with no requirements at all for families who homeschool.

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Sources

• The Philadelphia Inquirer: Paulsboro mother and stepfather charged with murder
• FOX 29 Philadelphia: Gloucester County couple charged in death of 9-year-old
• FOX 29 Philadelphia: Paulsboro community holds vigil for Maya
• Daily Voice: Maya's great-grandmother speaks about her life
• Patch: Family member's account of Maya's final years
• New Jersey Globe: Burzichelli and Moriarty statement on homeschooling
• New Jersey Senate Democrats: Joint statement by Senators Burzichelli and Moriarty