Mom drowned her autistic kid in river

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The Tampa police chief’s voice seemed to halt more than once Friday as he updated the public on the shocking death of Je’Hyrah Daniels, who witnesses said was carried into the Hillsborough River by her mother Thursday afternoon and left there to drown.

Shakayla Monae Denson, 26, is charged with first-degree felony murder, aggravated child abuse and grand theft auto, Chief Brian Dugan said during a Friday morning media briefing.

The Tampa Bay Times reported that a GoFundMe page created by Denson under the name Kayla Denson in October stated that Je’Hyrah had recently been diagnosed with autism. The page, which has been removed since the girl’s death, sought help funding therapies.

A page established Friday by Jedaric Daniels, who identified himself as Je’Hyrah’s father, confirmed the autism diagnosis. Daniels’ page is asking for help with funeral expenses

WFTS in Tampa reported that the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office wrapped up an investigation into Denson’s parenting just three days before Je’Hyrah was killed. The agency’s Child Protection Investigation Division began a probe June 19 into allegations of inadequate supervision of the girl.

The investigative report obtained by the news station states that about a month before, the toddler was with her mother at her great-grandmother’s home when she wandered away to a nearby park. Though the distance from the house to the park was not listed, the case worker estimated it to be about a six-minute walk.
“The mother seems overwhelmed and tired with caring for Je’Hyrah,” the summary of allegations in the report says. “Je’Hyrah is (redacted) non-verbal, and it seems like the mother is upset that she has these disabilities and is not the baby she dreamed of having.

“The mother is easily distracted and doesn't show much attention toward Je'Hyrah. 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.

The case worker assigned to the investigation reported that Denson’s home was appropriate and free of hazards and had a security system that sounded if a door was opened. Je’Hyrah appeared well cared for and had no bruises or other marks visible on her body, the report says.

“She was playing in the house during the visit and appeared to be happy, healthy and active,” the report states. “She was bonded with the mother and appeared to listen to basic commands.

The case worker wrote that Denson denied not
watching her daughter properly and said when Je’Hyrah wandered away to the park, it was the girl’s grandmother and great-grandmother who were supposed to be watching her.

One statement in the report was particularly chilling in light of Je’Hyrah’s subsequent death.

“(Denson) denied that the child has gotten out of her home, but (Je’Hyrah) is very preoccupied with water and always wants to jump in, no matter where they are,” the report says.

Denson’s sister and some neighbors were interviewed during the investigation and raised no alarms about Denson’s ability to care for her daughter. She was ultimately cleared of the allegations against her

Oh, ASPartOfMe, why do you post these? Do we really need to read this?

It feels like the effect of news sites going all over the world to find some "tragedy" instead of a little insight into politics or economy, because "if it bleeds, it leads."

Well, parents of non-autistic kids sometimes kill them, too.

Sometimes, but not at the same rates.

While it’s sad and difficult news to read, I think it’s important that we do read it in order to bring attention to the lack of supports/options & the desperate measures people go to when they feel they have no other choice. At least when these stories are shared it brings attention to these issues. If enough people get mad about them, maybe more resources and options will be made available.*

*Post Trump/Pence, of course, because we all know disabled people aren’t getting s**t in the USA under the current administration.

Do you have a link to a higher rate of autism filicides?

One thing is certain: parents will do whatever they want with their children and noöne has any business trying to stop them.

One thing is certain: parents will do whatever they want with their children and noöne has any business trying to stop them.

Unless, of course, they're stronger and better armed than you and ready to defend themselves from your intrusion in their personal affairs. In this case, you'd better damn well leave them alone, particularly considering that since the government is unfairly on your side, they have no reason to let you live and rat on them.