MOBILE, Ala. (WALA/Gray News) – A woman instructed a 10-year-old child to drop a 2-month-old baby on a solid tile floor in an attempt to end the baby’s life, according to authorities.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Tara Alexis Sykes, 36, was arrested for a “disturbing attempted homicide.” She is charged with attempted murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators were contacted Thursday by the Gulf Coast Kids House about a 2-month-old infant who had suffered serious injuries after being dropped on the kitchen floor by a 10-year-old. During the investigation, it was learned that the older child was communicating with Sykes through Roblox.
Investigators said that Sykes told the 10-year-old about various methods to kill the infant. Sykes instructed the child to drown the infant in the bathtub, burn the infant with scalding water and drop the infant on the floor to kill the infant, according to authorities.
Sykes also instructed the child 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.
Officials said the child doused the sheets but was unable to fully carry out the instructions.
Authorities said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible.
“I have been in law enforcement for over 40 years and have never seen anything quite like this,” Sheriff Chip W. Simmons said. “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.”
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