A 27-year-old Bronx, N.Y., mother who was once licensed to operate a home day care center has been charged with murder after allegedly tossing her infant daughter from a sixth-floor apartment window, according to NBC 4 New York.
Tenisha Fearon is accused of dangling her 6-month-old daughter, Janillah Lawrence, from the window of their home about 2 p.m. Thursday before letting her drop "to the pavement 60 feet below as her other three children watched in 'horror,' " the report says.
It is the third time since August that a child has been thrown from a New York apartment window, including earlier this month in Yonkers. In the latest incident, police broke into the apartment to apprehend Fearon, who was naked and screaming, the report says.
Before the incident, she had reportedly argued with someone next door, and the baby was tossed from the window moments later, the building's superintendent, George Maldanado, told the news outlet. Maldonado claims that he tried to calm Fearon down before the incident took place, but "she wouldn't listen to me," notes the report.
Until late April, Fearon was licensed to run a day care from her home, and city agencies referred children to her care, health officials told NBC 4 New York.
"Tenisha Fearon was a registered family day care provider from 2013 to 2015 with no complaints or violations," Steve Flamisch, a spokesman for the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, said in a statement to NBC 4. "Her registration expired on April 30 and she did not apply for renewal. Her program is closed."
Her three other children ages, 4, 8 and 10, were in the apartment at the time of the incident and are now in custody of New York City Administration for Children Services. One child recounted the tragic events to police, while the others were too shocked to speak, notes the television news station.
"A judge ordered a psych exam, as well as medical attention and protective custody for Fearon while in jail," the report says.
Read more at NBC 4 New York.