Pensacola woman arrested for instructing child to murder infant through Roblox

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Posted on 10/22/2024 12:15:07 PM PDT by Red Badger

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. -- A 36-year-old woman was arrested on charges of attempted murderwhile engaged in aggravated child abuse on Friday.

Escambia County Sheriff's Office deputies say an investigation revealed that Tara Sykes had instructed a 10-year-old to purposefully drop a 2-month-old on a solid tile floor in an attempt to end the infant’s life.

On Thursday, ECSO investigators say they were contacted by the Gulf Coast Kids House about a 2-month-old infant who had suffered serious injuries after being dropped on the kitchen floor by a 10-year-old.

During the investigation, it was learned that the 10-year-old was communicating with Sykes through a social media platform called Roblox, according to deputies.

Deputies say Sykes instructed the 10-year-old on various methods to kill the infant in the communication thread.

Sykes instructed the 10-year-old to drown the infant in the bathtub, burn the infant with scalding water, and drop the infant on the floor to kill the infant, according to ECSO.

Deputies say additionally, Sykes had instructed the 10-year-old on how to kill the adults the 10-year-old was temporarily living with by cutting their throats with a knife while they slept and burning their house by dousing bed sheets with aerosol spray and setting them on fire.

The 10-year-old doused the sheets but was unable to carry out the instructions, according to ECSO.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible, according to deputies.

“I have been in Law Enforcement for over 40 years and have never seen anything quite like this,"Sheriff Chip W. Simmons said. "I am truly disturbed by the circumstances and the thought that anyone could think like this, let alone instruct these acts to be carried out. There is something really wrong with her."

Sheriff Simmons says this disturbing case is unprecedented here in the county.

"Unfortunately the 10-year-old did follow through and drop the infant on the kitchen floor," Sheriff Simmons said. "That's where the infant sustained the serious injuries."

"There were conversations about cutting the throat and burning the home of the adults that the 10-year-old was temporarily staying with," he added.

It's not uncommon for adults to contact children on digital platforms, but Sheriff Simmons says this is not the typical case.

"This is not a random someone getting on that particular social media platform or any social media platform and just finding someone to start engaging in a conversation," Sheriff Simmons said. "The relationship had already been well established before the social media platform communications."

Sykes was arrested at her home on the two-thousand block of Tomlinson Road.

Sheriff Simmons says the 10-year-old who carried out some of the actions could also face charges.

"We're still having conversations with the state attorney's office on what if any charges the 10-year-old will have," Sheriff Simmons said.

This was not the first time Sykes had been charged with abuse.

She was also arrested in May on the offense of child neglect and endangerment.

The investigation is still open as authorities work to find more answers in this case.

Sheriff Simmons says additional charges are possible.

1 posted on 10/22/2024 12:15:07 PM PDT by Red Badger

To: Red Badger

2 posted on 10/22/2024 12:16:06 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire, or both.)

To: Red Badger

3 posted on 10/22/2024 12:16:10 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)

To: Red Badger

4 posted on 10/22/2024 12:17:35 PM PDT by kiryandil (Kraft durch Freude! - The Kamunist and The Walzrus )

To: BenLurkin

5 posted on 10/22/2024 12:17:50 PM PDT by kiryandil (Kraft durch Freude! - The Kamunist and The Walzrus )

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