A shocking incident unfolded in Florida recently, where a 10-year-old girl was allegedly instructed by her 36-year-old relative, Tara Alexis Sykes, to commit a heinous act of violence. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Sykes used messages on the online video game Roblox to direct the young girl to harm a 2-month-old baby and kill her adult guardians.
The girl, out of fear for her own life, followed Sykes’ instructions and caused harm to the infant. Thankfully, the adults were unharmed, but the baby suffered injuries as a result of the disturbing incident. The sheriff’s office began investigating after receiving a report about the infant’s skull fracture, which occurred after the girl dropped him.
According to authorities, the 10-year-old was communicating with Sykes through Roblox at the time of the incident. The girl even created a Roblox account for Sykes, allowing them to exchange messages through the platform. Shockingly, Sykes allegedly instructed the girl to kill the baby in various brutal ways, including drowning, burning with scalding water, and dropping on the floor. Additionally, Sykes directed the girl to harm her guardians and their adult daughter, suggesting methods like cutting their throats while they slept and setting the house on fire.
Sheriff Chip Simmons expressed his deep concern over the case, stating that in his over 40 years of law enforcement experience, he had never encountered such a disturbing situation. The gravity of the crime and the twisted thinking behind it left him truly disturbed. The authorities are taking the matter seriously, and Sykes has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated child abuse in connection to the incident.
Furthermore, it was revealed that Sykes and her husband had been previously arrested for child neglect and endangerment in a separate case. They allegedly allowed a 20-year-old man who impregnated a 14-year-old relative to live in their home, leading to the charges. While Sykes has pleaded not guilty in that case, the legal proceedings are ongoing.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dark side of online interactions and the potential dangers they pose, especially for vulnerable individuals like children. It highlights the importance of monitoring and supervising children’s online activities to protect them from harmful influences. The authorities are urging parents and guardians to be vigilant and involved in their children’s digital lives to prevent such tragic incidents from occurring in the future.
