Woman Charged With Telling Child Through Gaming Platform To Murder Infant

October 21, 2024

A 36-year-old Escambia County woman has been charged with allegedly instructing a child to murder an infant through a on online gaming platform.

Tara Alexis Sykes was charged with attempted murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Sykes had instructed a 10-year-old to purposefully drop a 2-month-old on a solid tile floor in an attempt to end the infant’s life.

On October 17th, ECSO investigators were contacted by the Gulf Coast Kids House in reference to a 2-month-old infant who had suffered serious injuries after being dropped on the kitchen floor by a 10-year-old. During the investigation, it was learned that the 10-year-old was communicating with Tara Sykes through the gaming platform Roblox.

The ECSO said that in the communication thread, Sykes instructed the 10-year-old on various methods to kill the infant. Sykes instructed the 10-year-old to drown the infant in the bathtub, burn the infant with scalding water, and drop the infant on the floor to kill the infant. Additionally, investigators said Sykes had instructed the 10-year-old on how to kill the adults the 10-year-old was temporarily living with by cutting their throats with a knife while they slept and burning their house by dousing bed sheets with aerosol spray and setting them on fire. The 10-year-old doused the sheets but was unable to carry out the other instructions.

Deputies said the “investigation will continue, and additional charges are possible as investigators continue to unwind this tragedy.”

“I have been in Law Enforcement for over 40 years and have never seen anything quite like this. I am truly disturbed by the circumstances and the thought that anyone could think like this, let alone instruct these acts to be carried out. There is something really wrong with her,” Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simons said.

Comments

20 Responses to “Woman Charged With Telling Child Through Gaming Platform To Murder Infant”

  1. Lisa on October 24th, 2024 12:03 pm

    This is just sad for the 2 children. I don’t know anything about Roblox or really any of the gaming platforms but in my opinion, none of them are good. They are places where children and adults can interact and not really know what kind of person is on the other side. Just asking for trouble. If there was some way to TRULY have a safe place then it would be ok. This woman is just evil and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I pray for the 10 year old and the baby. Pray for restoration of the baby and the little girl can forget all the bad that was pumped into her. May God have mercy on this society.

  2. Charlotte Bates on October 23rd, 2024 2:01 pm

    She needs to be put away for the rest of her life. I would never trust someone like her, ever, to be helped. I pray that poor baby is going to be o.k., and as for the ten year old I certainly pray that child won’t have an everlasting effect on what she told that child to do.

  3. Steve on October 23rd, 2024 12:42 pm

    This case calls for a severe and swift punishment if the defendant is convicted .

  4. Jcellops on October 22nd, 2024 7:48 pm

    Sociopath

  5. David on October 22nd, 2024 12:40 pm

    This woman has allowed pure demonic evil to take possession of he mind, her emotions, and her will. She has also extended that evil into the life of the 10 year old, and now the once innocent child is carrying that influence within their soul as well. This is pure evil. Pray for the family.

  6. sam on October 22nd, 2024 11:38 am

    this is one sick puppy! there is no way she should ever be allowed around ANY children.

  7. Jan on October 22nd, 2024 10:11 am

    Horrific

  8. Jr on October 22nd, 2024 7:00 am

    I agree with everyone on here!

  9. Steve on October 22nd, 2024 4:58 am

    Incarcerate as long ( per minute ) as the law will allow with consecutive sentences .

  10. John on October 22nd, 2024 1:42 am

    Pure evil sick in the head she needs the same thing done to her that the little baby went through but worse I kids they are grown now let one of my kids or grandkids ever tell me something like this cops be her last worry breaks my heart

  11. Sherry on October 21st, 2024 10:46 pm

    Someone should drop this pathetic idiot on her head or scald her or cut her throat as she told a 10 yr old 2 do. This is horrible this is the worst excuse for a damn human I have ever heard of she I’d an absolute monster and a danger to society!!!

  12. EMD on October 21st, 2024 9:38 pm

    Demons are real.

  13. Me on October 21st, 2024 8:41 pm

    Ohh….here we go again! ROBLOX doesn’t need to be banned! It’s a perfectly legit platform! It is a very “secure” site for kids! There’s a bad person in EVERY crowd, no matter the circumstances! I’ve known this platform for over 10 years and have NEVER had any issues, because of their security!
    There is more to this story! Think about it!!
    And…..if you know nothing about that site…..don’t bad mouth it!

  14. BG2 on October 21st, 2024 7:02 pm

    THE MOST EVIL OF EVIL RIGHT HERE. She deserves to be done as she manipulated that child. Don’t come at me saying “she deserves this/that to get help”!!! There is nothing that can help this one but some “JUSTICE”! I can’t even wrap my mind around the “why” of this individual. Anyone who stands up for this one is as evil in their thinking as she is!!!! This should be a capital murder charge, prosecution and guilty verdict handed down and let her swing!!!!

  15. Jack Murphy on October 21st, 2024 6:39 pm

    If drowning,scalding,or dropping off a tall building were suggested as punishment,this 36:year old would cry cruel and inhumane punishment. Some Mother in Prison will handle this. The welcoming Committee is planning a bash.

  16. Steve on October 21st, 2024 6:01 pm

    Needs “ DANGER “ tattoo ed on her forehead .

  17. ShaSha on October 21st, 2024 5:57 pm

    What is wrong with people? Pure Evil

  18. Cocerned on October 21st, 2024 5:19 pm

    Roblox needs to be banned. Children spend to much time on this game. Shut the platform down

  19. Debbie Simmons on October 21st, 2024 5:17 pm

    What’s a 36 year old doing on Roblox to begin with. This woman doesn’t need to walk the streets again . I hope there’s some way they can go over her history on the app and see if she has done this with other kids if so go and talk with those families . There could be other babies , kids or adults in danger. What is this world coming to. That poor little baby , I pray he heals completely

  20. Mary on October 21st, 2024 2:41 pm

    The lowest of low right there. If you didn’t want children, use birth control, don’t get pregnant. Adoption is ALWAYS an option. There are so many people who desperately want children & cantbhave them who would jump through hoops to have your precious children. God have mercy on you.