Recently, a mother in Lake County, Florida, was arrested this past week for allegedly killing her boyfriend’s 9-year-old daughter. According to authorities, 34-year-old Tyshael Elise Martin was arrested in Monteverder on Wednesday evening and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and child neglect in the death of Jamaria Sessions.
Reports indicate that emergency crews responded to Martin’s residence in mid-June after the 9-year-old was unresponsive. First responders discovered Sessions with serious injuries, prompting an investigation from sheriff’s deputies. Furthermore, an investigation by the medical examiner determined that the injuries observed on the child were consistent with physical abuse.
Subsequently, authorities obtained footage from the family’s home security system, which revealed horrifying details surrounding the death of Sessions. The video showed Jamaria being “viciously” attacked by the family’s pet Rottweiler, which weighed over 100 pounds. However, Martin was directly ordering the dog to attack the 9-year-old.
According to detectives, Martin further assaulted Sessions, kicking her repeatedly as she lay on the ground. As the 34-year-old continued to beat Jamaria, she allegedly made a statement in which she possibly said, “I’m fixin’ to kill her.” Deputies fixated on six videos that were recorded around midnight on June 15 that detail the attack against Sessions. The affidavit specified that Martin was “encouraging the dog to bite” Jamaria as she lay on the floor just out of the camera’s view.
The affidavit continued, “The next clips show Jamaria Sessions staggering, nude and disheveled.” The report further alleged, “Jamaria’s hair, previously in a partial bun, was now messy, and her extensions were falling out of her hair. It appeared that the dog had bitten the child’s head, pulling at her hair, at the command of Tyshael Martin.”
“The child lay motionless, moaning in pain, as Tyshael Martin continued to kick her hip and eventually her stomach area at full force,” deputies claimed. “When the child did not get up, Tyshael Martin then grabbed the child by her hair, pulling her across the floor, with minimal resistance by Jamaria Sessions, who appeared to be disorientated and motionless.”
Authorities specified the horrific nature of the case. “They got the act of Martin severely, savagely beating Jamaria in the nights leading up to her death. In my time here, I don’t think I have ever seen anything so graphic and like I said, savage is an appropriate word to describe this,” said Lt. John Herrell with Lake County Sheriff’s Office
Herrell noted that simply reading the affidavit is disturbing, pointing out how unimaginable it must have been for the detectives on the scene. “It’s difficult to read (the arrest affidavit) It’s difficult to even talk about. And no doubt it was difficult even for detectives to investigate this and piece it all together. It’s just unimaginable, really,” he said.
Detectives further noted evidence gathered from interviews, videos, and text messages that suggested Jamaria had been extensively punished with activities such as wall sits, running exercises, and various forms of assault. According to the autopsy report that was released last week, the 9-year-old’s death was caused by multiple blunt injuries to the head, torso, and other extremities.
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