A Southaven, Mississippi, woman, Jessica Tabor, 31, has been formally charged with capital murder in the death of her two-year-old daughter, Jastiny, court documents revealed. According to a recent WREG report, a DeSoto County grand jury delivered the indictment, and Tabor was taken into custody without the possibility of release on bond.
The case, unfolding since late March, has grown to encapsulate much more than the alleged act itself, as discussions of mental health care lapses come to the fore, Tabor's mother Towana Johnson professed to Action News 5 how her repeated pleas for support to deal with her daughter's mental health were unheeded by "the system" which she believes failed their family, especially considering that Tabor had been in and out of institutions as her mental health waned. Neighbors described Tabor's children, who were being cared for by their grandparents, were well looked after.
Amid the situation is a reminder of the tragic events that took place on Bridgewater Drive, where the indictment from the grand jury alleges, "Tabor did willfully and feloniously kill and murder her daughter," a statement provided by DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton, according to Action News 5. This charge of capital murder underscores the seriousness of the offense and could lead to severe punishment pending the outcome of Tabor's trial.
District Attorney Barton acknowledged the contributions of everyone involved in advancing the case, as District Attorney Barton expressed his gratitude towards the Grand Jury which he described their job as sometimes being "very tough and emotional," he went on to commend the Southaven Police Department for what he termed their "elite investigative efforts that led to this indictment," remarks shared with Desoto County News.
