Horrific Story of Abuse and Instruction to Harm: Mother Arrested for Crime
Arrest and Charges
A 36-year-old woman, Tara Alexis Sykes, was taken into custody on Friday and charged with attempted murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities announced her arrest on Monday in a Facebook post.
Involvement in Online Gaming and Instruction
The arrest report alleged that Sykes communicated with her 10-year-old daughter on the online gaming platform Roblox and instructed the girl on various methods to kill the 2-month-old infant. The court documents stated that Sykes is related to the 2-month-old baby.
Instructing Child Abuse and Murder
Sykes allegedly 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. The sheriff’s office described these instructions as "horrific and chilling."
Involvement of 10-Year-Old Child
The 10-year-old allegedly picked up the infant after he became fussy and was walking into the kitchen with him to find an adult. The baby fell, and the foster father picked up the infant and took him to the hospital where doctors said he had a skull fracture.
Courageous 10-Year-Old’s Confession
During a forensic interview, the 10-year-old child said she dropped the baby "on the floor at the direction of her mother." The girl stated that she was "terrified of her mother and felt that if she did not follow through with the instructions, Sykes would harm or kill her as well."
Other Charges of Child Abuse and Murder
The investigation also revealed that Sykes instructed the 10-year-old on how to kill the adults the child 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 allegedly doused the sheets but was not able to carry out the instructions.
Conclusion
The allegations against Sykes are incredibly disturbing and alarming, leaving authorities and the public to question the extent of her mental health and wellbeing. The actions of Sykes, as described in the arrest report, demonstrate a disturbing inability to distinguish right from wrong, putting the lives of children at risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What charges was Tara Alexis Sykes facing?
A: Sykes was charged with attempted murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse.
Q: How did the 2-month-old baby sustain his injuries?
A: The baby was dropped on the tile floor by the 10-year-old child at the direction of Sykes, resulting in a skull fracture.
Q: What is Roblox?
A: Roblox is an online gaming platform.
Q: What was the 10-year-old’s motivation for carrying out the instructions?
A: The 10-year-old stated that she was "terrified of her mother and felt that if she did not follow through with the instructions, Sykes would harm or kill her as well."
