(Updated as of 10/21/2024 at 3:00 p.m.)
Emergency responders were called to an Orlando home in June to treat an unresponsive child. When they arrived, they found 9-year-old Jamaria Sessions bloodied and severely wounded. What they didn’t know is her injuries were no freak accident. Instead, it would be months before the true details of the malicious attack would come to light.
Police arrested Tyshael Elise Martin almost three months after Sessions’ June death, according to Fox News. The 34-year-old is charged with first degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and child neglect after police say she tortured and killed the young girl, per the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Now, prosecutors representing the state of Florida have filed a motion of intent this month to inform the court they would be seeking the death penalty if Martin is found guilty, reports Fox Orlando.
Martin first told deputies she found the young girl cold and unresponsive when she went to wake her and other children in the house up, according to an affidavit obtained by WESH 2, but Sessions’ autopsy told a more sinister story.
The medical examiner’s office determined Sessions suffered multiple abrasions, bruises, burns, and bite marks likely stemming from physical abuse. It wasn’t until investigators got hold of the security footage inside the house that the full story unfolded, according to Fox 35.
In the footage from June 15, 2024, the family’s 103-pound Rottweiler attacks the nine-year-old girl as her stepmother, Martin, very clearly holds the dog’s leash while directing the assault, according to investigators. Martin can also be seen repeatedly kicking Sessions as she laid on the floor motionless.
The brutal incident happened all in front of Martin’s other children, according to the affidavit. Also in the video, Martin allegedly says “I’m fixin’ to kill her,” speaking of the nine-year-old.
Sessions’ father, LoJuan Sessions, was also booked just two days after his girlfriend was arrested, according to WFTV. Authorities say LoJaun is charged with manslaughter although he was not present at the time of Sessions’ death. Deputies say he allowed Martin to abuse the 9-year-old and even encouraged the abuse at times.
After listing Sessions’ died from blunt force trauma to the head and thermal injury to the foot, the medical examiner ruled her death a homicide. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said it was “the worst case of aggravated child abuse we’ve ever seen,” according to Fox 35.
Additional videos, and text messages revealed punishment for the nine-year-old included “wall sits, running in place with her arms raised, being hit with various objects, and receiving kicks, punches, and pinches,” reports Fox 35.
Martin was denied bond and remains in custody.