Four-year-old Tampa girl ‘drowned by mother’ was nonverbal autistic

Shakayla Denson, 26, is behind bars after she allegedly carried her daughter Je’Hyrah Daniels into a Tampa river and drowned her 

The four-year-old girl who was allegedly drowned in a river by her own mother could be heard screaming as she was dragged into the water, witnesses have revealed. 

Shakayla Denson, 26, is behind bars after she allegedly carried her daughter Je’Hyrah Daniels into the current and pushed her under, watching as she flailed and floated away. 

Now bystanders have revealed that Je’Hyrah, who is nonverbal autistic, was screaming and thrashing in her mother’s arms as they approached the river. 

Witnesses said they saw Denson drag the girl from a car and into Hillsborough River in Tampa on Thursday.

As she held her only daughter to her chest, Denson then began to scream as well.

Bystanders said that she continued to take her daughter deeper into the river, letting go only after the water reached her shoulders. 

The girl was seen struggling in the current, her head and hands rising as she was swept away.

 

Witnesses said the four-year-old girl, who was nonverbal autistic, was screaming and thrashing in her mother's arms as she was carried into the Hillsborough River

Witnesses said the four-year-old girl, who was nonverbal autistic, was screaming and thrashing in her mother’s arms as she was carried into the Hillsborough River

This witness photo allegedly shows Denson emerging from the river in front of stunned onlookers after carrying Je'Hyrah into the current and drowning the girl

This witness photo allegedly shows Denson emerging from the river in front of stunned onlookers after carrying Je’Hyrah into the current and drowning the girl

Rescue divers pulled Je’Hyrah from the water about 30 minutes later. She was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.

Vicki Walker was sitting on her porch when she spotted Denson in the river, walking into the water fully-dressed

Walker had never seen a person swimming in the river in the three years she had been living there, she told the Tampa Bay Times. 

While Walker never saw Je’Hyrah, she did see Denson exit the river and sit down in the grass, wailing. She then took her shirt off and walked away. 

Witnesses who spotted Denson before her arrest said the mother was wearing just a bra and black pants. 

Witnesses said they saw Denson drag the girl from a car and into Hillsborough River in Tampa on Thursday. As she held her only daughter to her chest, Denson then began to scream too 

Witnesses said they saw Denson drag the girl from a car and into Hillsborough River in Tampa on Thursday. As she held her only daughter to her chest, Denson then began to scream too 

Children's shoes are seen abandoned under the stolen vehicle that police say Denson hijacked from a car dealer and drove to the river where she allegedly drowned her daughter

Children’s shoes are seen abandoned under the stolen vehicle that police say Denson hijacked from a car dealer and drove to the river where she allegedly drowned her daughter

She was barefoot and spotted checking car handles and counting out loud in the back of a discount food store. 

Denson has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and grand theft motor vehicle in connection with JeHyrah’s death.

She was ordered held without bail on a first-degree murder charge on Friday, appearing in court in a one-piece uniform worn by inmates who are a suicide threat. 

Tampa police said Denson stole a car from an auto repair shop on Thursday afternoon and forced her daughter inside.

Surveillance footage shows Denson walking around the Jordan Auto Repair Shop, pulling Je’Hyrah by the hand as she checks the handles of parked cars. 

Surveillance footage shows Denson walking around the Jordan Auto Repair Shop, pulling Je'Hyrah by the hand as she checks the handles of parked cars

Surveillance footage shows Denson walking around the Jordan Auto Repair Shop, pulling Je’Hyrah by the hand as she checks the handles of parked cars

At one point Denson discovers an unlocked gray Nissan Altima (pictured) and shoves her daughter into the backseat before finding the keys inside and driving away

At one point Denson discovers an unlocked gray Nissan Altima (pictured) and shoves her daughter into the backseat before finding the keys inside and driving away

At one point Denson discovers an unlocked gray Nissan Altima and shoves her daughter into the backseat before finding the keys inside and driving away.  

Abdelrazzaq Abdelrazz, who owns the lot, said he demanded that Denson open the door and tried to put himself in front of the bumper. 

But he said Denson ignored him and backed out, rolling over his foot as she drove off.

About 40 minutes later, the car pulled up to the Hillsborough River, which runs through Tampa.  

Denson had been cleared by child abuse investigators just two days before she allegedly killing her daughter. 

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office opened the investigation on June 19. It closed the investigation on Tuesday after no evidence of maltreatment, abuse, or neglect was found, authorities said.

The investigation began after someone reported that Denson was not properly caring for Je’Hyrah and seemed ‘overwhelmed and tired’. 

Denson had been cleared by child abuse investigators just two days before she allegedly killed her daughter

Denson had been cleared by child abuse investigators just two days before she allegedly killed her daughter

Denson (front left) appeared in court via video link on Friday and was ordered held without bail. She is seen above wearing a quilted anti-suicide garment for prisoners at risk of self-harm

Denson (front left) appeared in court via video link on Friday and was ordered held without bail. She is seen above wearing a quilted anti-suicide garment for prisoners at risk of self-harm

‘The mother is easily distracted and doesn’t show much attention toward Je’Hyrah,’ the tipster, whose identity has not been released, reported. 

‘She just lets her run around and do what she wants. She doesn’t seem to have the maturity to address the special needs that Je’Hyrah has.’ 

An investigator who visited Denson the next day noted in their report that the mother’s two-bedroom home was equipped with a security system and had no hazards, according to the Tampa Bay Times. 

Denson told the investigator she was shocked that someone would report her and denied that she was ‘too immature to care for the child’.

The mother did admit that it was difficult being a single mother to a special-needs child and said her daughter was prone to tantrums. 

She also said Je’Hyrah was ‘very preoccupied with water and always wants to jump in no matter where they are’. 

Tampa law enforcement stand at the scene where Je'Hyrah drowned in the Hillsborough River

Tampa law enforcement stand at the scene where Je’Hyrah drowned in the Hillsborough River

A Fire Department rescue team operates a boat in the Hillsborough River near where Je'Hyrah  was seen struggling in the water, her head and hands rising as she was swept away

A Fire Department rescue team operates a boat in the Hillsborough River near where Je’Hyrah was seen struggling in the water, her head and hands rising as she was swept away

Denson also told the investigator that she had created a GoFundMe page to raise money for her daughter’s autism treatment and was working to try and enroll her in the Florida Autism Center of Excellence. 

The investigator wrote in the report that Je’Hyrah seemed happy and energetic and did not have any injuries. 

They noted that Denson’s sister, as well as two of her neighbors, said they had no concerns for Je’Hyrah’s safety in her mother’s care.  

But after Je’Hyrah’s death, neighbor Shantia Little told the Tampa Bay Times that Denson would frequently leave Je’Hyrah and a young niece and nephew alone in her apartment.

She told the paper Denson ‘didn’t care’ about her daughter.

‘That child is innocent,’ Little said. ‘That child, she didn’t deserve that.’ 

Father Jedaric Daniels (with Je'Heyrah above) said: 'In my entire 37 years of living, I have never endured so much hurt [and] pain'

Father Jedaric Daniels (with Je’Heyrah above) said: ‘In my entire 37 years of living, I have never endured so much hurt [and] pain’

Daniels wrote that Je'Hyrah 'required a little more love and attention' due to her autism 

Daniels wrote that Je’Hyrah ‘required a little more love and attention’ due to her autism 

It remains unclear if Little was one of the neighbors interviewed for the child abuse investigation.  

While the Sheriff’s Office has agreed with its initial conclusion, the Department of Children and Families has ordered another review of the investigation. 

Meanwhile, Je’Hyrah’s father Jedaric Daniels has spoken out about his loss.

‘In my entire 37 years of living, I have never endured so much hurt [and] pain,’ Daniels wrote on a GoFundMe campaign page for his daughter.

‘Je’hyrah was diagnosed with Autisum so she required a little more love and attention.’ 

‘I loved her with every bone in my body,’ the grieving father wrote.  

Flowers, stuffed animals and balloons can be seen at the memorial site for Je'Hyrah Daniels

Flowers, stuffed animals and balloons can be seen at the memorial site for Je’Hyrah Daniels



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