Florida authorities have arrested a 34-year-old woman in connection with the tragic death of her boyfriend’s 9-year-old daughter. Evidence reportedly shows the woman directing a 100-pound dog to attack the child before physically assaulting her herself. Tyshael Elise Martin has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in the death of Jamaria Sessions, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to a home on the morning of June 17th in Montverde, where they discovered Jamaria unresponsive. Paramedics found her unclothed and covered in a variety of injuries, including abrasions, small puncture wounds, burns, and bruises, all in different stages of healing, as stated in the arrest affidavit.
Martin told authorities that the family had planned to travel to California for a vacation that day. She claimed she tried to wake Jamaria, but the child was cold and unresponsive.
Detectives reviewed nearly 3,000 videos from surveillance cameras inside and outside the home, focusing on six videos recorded shortly before midnight on June 15th. These videos allegedly show Jamaria being attacked by the family’s 103-pound Rottweiler. In the footage, Martin can reportedly be seen holding the dog’s leash, encouraging the animal to bite Jamaria, who was lying just out of the camera’s view.
Subsequent footage depicts Jamaria staggering and disoriented, her hair disheveled and extensions falling out. Investigators believe the dog bit Jamaria’s head and pulled her hair under Martin's direction. The affidavit states that Martin then forced Jamaria to stand with her arms raised. When the child wavered, Martin allegedly kicked her, causing her to fall to the ground.
“The child lay motionless, moaning in pain, as Tyshael Martin continued to kick her hip and eventually her stomach area at full force,” deputies detailed in the affidavit. “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.” Martin was also heard saying, “I’m going to kill her,” or words to that effect.
Further investigation revealed that Martin allegedly used exercise as a form of punishment, forcing Jamaria to do wall sits for long periods, run in place with her hands up, and run on a treadmill. Martin is also accused of kicking, punching, and pinching the child.
On Tuesday, an autopsy determined that Jamaria died from blunt force trauma to the head, torso, and extremities, in addition to thermal injuries to her right foot. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide. Authorities arrested Martin on Wednesday, and she is currently being held without bond at the Lake County Jail. She made her first court appearance on Thursday.
