A 34-year-old Montverde woman has been taken into custody on charges linked to the harrowing death of a 9-year-old girl. Tyshael Elise Martin faces accusations of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and child neglect after her boyfriend's daughter, Jamaria Sessions, was found deceased in their home back in June. According to ClickOrlando, Martin was arrested on Wednesday.
Investigators discovered footage from the family's home surveillance system, a critical piece of evidence that exposed the potential trigger of Jamaria's untimely demise. This footage, obtained two days prior to the discovery of the body, revealed a chilling scene: Jamaria undergoing a vicious attack inflicted by a 103-pound Rottweiler, which appeared to have been controlled by Martin. A disturbing claim arises, with Martin allegedly saying, "I'm fixin' to kill her," amidst the assault, as reported by ClickOrlando. The security system footage also depicted the young girl being dragged across the floor, further suffering strikes and shakes at the hands of the accused.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office, highlighting the severity of the girl's condition when found, reported numerous visible abrasions, bruises, burns, and possible bite marks on Jamaria's body. Probing into the occurrences leading up to the incident, detectives were informed of punitive measures previously inflicted upon the child, including harsh physical exercises and beatings with various objects, according to ClickOrlando.
The graveness of Jamaria's condition was reflected in the autopsy report, with the Medical Examiner citing "multiple blunt injuries to the head and more, plus a thermal injury of her foot" as the cause of death. Martin is currently held in Lake County jail without bond, denoting the gravity of the charges against her and the severity of the case, as detailed by WESH.
