Photo: Escambia County Sheriff's Office Facebook
A shocking case from Escambia County, Florida, has led to the arrest of 36-year-old Tara Alexis Sykes, who is accused of attempting to orchestrate a horrific attack on a child. According to local authorities, Sykes allegedly instructed a 10-year-old child to drop a two-month-old infant on the floor, slit the throats of adults in the household, and set the victims on fire. The violent plan was partially carried out, and Sykes now faces a charge of attempted murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse.
The disturbing events came to light on Thursday, October 17, when the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Gulf Coast Kids House, a child advocacy center. The call detailed the severe injuries sustained by a two-month-old infant, who had reportedly been dropped on the kitchen floor by the 10-year-old child. Authorities immediately began an investigation, which soon uncovered a chilling plot allegedly masterminded by Sykes.
According to a statement from the sheriff’s office, the 10-year-old child had been under the influence of Sykes, who allegedly used the gaming platform Roblox to communicate with the minor. Through this platform, Sykes is accused of instructing the child on various violent methods to harm the baby and other adults residing in the home. Some of the methods included drowning the infant in the bathtub, scalding the baby with hot water, and ultimately dropping the infant on the floor.
Authorities allege that Sykes did not stop at instructing the child to harm the baby. The sheriff’s office claims she took things further by ordering the 10-year-old to slit the throats of the adults temporarily living in the household. Additionally, the child was allegedly told to douse the sheets in the home with aerosol spray and then set the adults on fire.
While the child is accused of following through on some of Sykes’ instructions, the full plan was not completed. According to law enforcement, the child did drop the infant “on a solid tile floor” and doused the sheets in the house, but the attempt to set the adults on fire was unsuccessful. The extent of the injuries suffered by the infant has not been fully disclosed, but the case has already sparked outrage among the community and child advocacy organizations.
Gulf Coast Kids House, which played a role in bringing the case to authorities’ attention, declined to comment extensively on the situation. However, the organization did release a brief statement: “We are appalled and saddened by this case.” Their role in investigating and prosecuting cases of child abuse highlights the gravity of the situation and the devastating impact it has had on the community.
While Sykes now faces serious charges, the fate of the 10-year-old involved remains unclear. Police have not announced any charges against the child, who appears to have been manipulated into carrying out these violent acts. The sheriff’s office has yet to release further details regarding the minor’s involvement or any potential legal consequences.
The case raises unsettling questions about how a woman could allegedly manipulate a child through an online platform to commit acts of violence. It also underscores the need for greater awareness and monitoring of vulnerable children who may be influenced by dangerous individuals. As the investigation continues, the community waits for justice to be served in this horrific case that has left many shocked and grieving for the innocent lives affected.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
