MONTVERDE, Fla. – A 34-year-old woman was arrested on murder and child abuse charges in the June death of a 9-year-old girl in Montverde, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Tyshael Elise Martin, 34, was arrested Wednesday in the death of her boyfriend’s daughter, Jamaria Sessions, who was found dead in a home along the 16000 block of Harbor Oak Drive on June 17, deputies said.
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According to the sheriff’s office, the girl’s injuries were “consistent with physical abuse.”
Leading up to the girl’s death, detectives obtained footage from the family’s security system on June 15 that showed Jamaria “being viciously attacked by the family’s 103-pound Rottweiler, with Tyshael commanding the attack while holding the dog’s leash,” officials said.
“The abuse continued to the point at which Tyshael can be seen dragging Jamaria’s nearly motionless body across the floor. Jamaria was then repeatedly struck and shaken by Tyshael, who can be heard in the video possibly saying, ‘I’m fixin’ to kill her,’” a release said.
The sheriff’s office said detectives learned the girl was punished with prolonged wall sits, running in place with her arms up, being hit with objects, kicked, punched and pinched.
An autopsy report revealed the girl’s cause of death was multiple blunt injuries to the head, torso and thermal injury of the right foot. According to a probable cause affidavit, the girl was burned on her foot when Martin used boiling water on the girl’s hair.
Martin is being held in the Lake County jail on no bond.
In addition to first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse charges, she faces a child neglect charge.
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