Police have arrested a 26-year-old mother and charged her with murder after she dropped her 4-year old daughter in Hillsborough River.
The woman Shakayla Denson, of Tampa, was charged with first-degree felony murder, aggravated child abuse and grand theft auto.
Police have accused Denson of stealing a car from an auto repair shop, she then parked the car before walking into the river at about 4 p.m. and leaving her daughter, Je’Hyrah Daniels, in the water.
Witnesses saw her do it, investigators said. “At approximately 4:30 p.m., a dive team member discovered an unconscious child submerged about 75 feet off shore,” a police statement said.
Je’Hyrah was pronounced dead at a hospital. Denson was apprehended while walking near where the child was dumped in the river.
She has previous arrests for driving with a suspended license and theft charges dating back two year ago.
“Unfortunately, at this point, there are a lot more questions than answers,” said Dugan, who called the situation a “completely tragic event. “It’s a crazy world we live in,” he said.
