Florida Mother Charged With Murder After Throwing Her Four-Year-Old Daughter In A Tampa River

A Florida mother has been arrested and charged for throwing her daughter into a Tampa River, and leaving her to drown. 

According to reports, the incident occurred on Thursday around 4:06 p.m. in the Hillsborough River, just north of the Columbus Driver bridge. 

Witnesses phoned officials to report a woman drowned a child, which prompted immediate response by emergency officials. By 4:30 p.m., the body of 4-year-old Je’Hyrah Daniels was pulled from the water and rushed to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. 

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According to police, witnesses say the woman “waded into the Hillsborough River with her child. Roughly halfway across the river, she tossed the child and began wading out.”

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Daniels’ mother, 26-year-old Shakayla Denson was arrested near the scene of the crime and booked on charges of first-degree felony murder and aggravated child abuse in the death of her daughter. 

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She also faces a grand theft auto charge, as she’s been accused of stealing a car from an auto repair shop, which she then used to drive to the river where she dumped her daughter.

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“Unfortunately, at this point, there are a lot more questions than answers,” Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan said, of the “completely tragic event.” 

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“It’s a crazy world we live in,” he added.