A Florida woman has been arrested after police say she instructed a young child to drop an infant on the floor and slit the throats of adults in a family before burning the victims.
Tara Alexis Sykes, 36, was arrested by police in Escambia County, Fla., on a charge of attempted murder while engaging in aggravated child abuse, according to a county sheriff’s statement.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was notified on Thursday, Oct. 17, of a 2-month-old who had been gravely hurt when the 10-year-old allegedly “dropped” the child on the kitchen floor, according to the statement.
The call came from Gulf Coast Kids House, a victim advocate agency that also investigates and prosecutes child abuse cases.
It was not immediately clear whether the incident happened at the facility or how the case came to the attention of those there. When approached, the organization declined to comment, saying only that “we are appalled and saddened by this case.”
The investigation indicated that Sykes reportedly instructed the 10-year-old to harm many individuals, including the infant and the adults they were living with, according to the statement.
Through the gaming platform Roblox, Sykes allegedly gave the youngster advice on how to hurt them, including drowning them in the bathtub, burning them with boiling water, and dropping them on the ground, according to the statement.
Additionally, according to the sheriff’s office, Sykes instructed the 10-year-old to cut the throats of the adults who were temporarily residing with the child. According to the statement, the kid was instructed to spray aerosol spray on the house’s linens and burn the adults.
Authorities, the 10-year-old allegedly followed some of the directions, dropping the baby “on a solid tile floor” and dousing the bedding. According to investigators, the toddler was unable to burn the adults.
Police did not announce any charges against the 10-year-old.
“I have been in Law Enforcement for over 40 years and have never seen anything quite like this,” Sheriff Chip W. Simmons said in the statement. “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,” Simmons said.
Officials at ECSO said there may be further charges as the investigation proceeds.
It wasn’t immediately clear if Sykes has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on her behalf.
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