A woman in Florida allegedly exchanged messages with a 10-year-old child about killing a baby and cutting the throats of the adults the adolescent was temporarily living with.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 36-year-old Tara Alexis Sykes on Monday. She was charged with attempted murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse.
Police say investigators were contacted by the Gulf Coast Kid’s House in Pensacola about a two-month-old infant who had suffered serious injuries after being dropped on the kitchen floor by a 10-year-old child.
During the investigation, cops learned that the accused was allegedly messaging with the child using the social media site Roblox.
“In the communication thread, Sykes instructed the 10-year-old on various methods to kill the infant,” police allege. “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.
“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.”
According to police, the child was able to douse the bed sheets but was unable to fully carry out the instructions.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be laid.
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“I have been in law enforcement for over 40 years and have never seen anything quite like this,” Escambia County Sheriff Chip W. Simmons said in a 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.”
Sykes is being held at the Escambia County Jail.