In a chilling case of online manipulation, a Florida woman instructed a child to murder an infant through Roblox chat.
At a Glance
- Tara Alexis Sykes arrested for instructing a 10-year-old to kill a 2-month-old baby via Roblox
- Sykes charged with attempted murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse
- Incident reported by Gulf Coast Kids House, a nonprofit center for young abuse victims
- Sheriff Chip W. Simmons described the case as exceptionally cruel and disturbing
- Investigation ongoing with no charges announced against the 10-year-old girl
Disturbing Instructions via Gaming Platform
In a shocking case that has left law enforcement officials…and local residents…deeply disturbed, Tara Alexis Sykes of Florida has been arrested for allegedly instructing a 10-year-old girl to kill a two-month-old infant through the popular gaming platform Roblox. The incident, which resulted in serious injuries to the baby, has exposed the dark underbelly of online gaming environments and their potential for exploitation.
Sykes reportedly used Roblox’s chat function to communicate with the young girl, providing chilling instructions on how to harm the infant. These included methods of drowning, burning, and dropping the baby. The severity of the situation escalated when Sykes allegedly extended her instructions to include killing the adults in the home and burning down the house.
A 36-year-old Florida woman was arrested on Friday on charges of attempted murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse.https://t.co/bLT37tvXFs
— KOMO News (@komonews) October 22, 2024
Law Enforcement’s Response
The case came to light through a report by Gulf Coast Kids House, a nonprofit center dedicated to helping young abuse victims. Escambia County Sheriff Chip W. Simmons expressed his shock at the nature of the crime, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the case in his four-decade career.
“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,” Sheriff Chip W. Simmons said about the case.
Sykes has been charged with attempted murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse. The 10-year-old girl, who attempted to follow the instructions but was unable to carry them out, reportedly expressed fear of Sykes. As of now, no charges have been announced against the child, and the investigation is ongoing.
A Pattern of Abuse
This incident is not Sykes’ first brush with the law concerning child-related crimes. Earlier accusations against her include a May 28 arrest for child neglect after allegedly allowing a 20-year-old man to impregnate her 14-year-old daughter. The case took an even darker turn when it was revealed that Sykes and her partner allegedly extorted $10,000 from the man’s grandmother by threatening harm to protect him from legal consequences.
Reports indicate that Sykes’ 14-year-old daughter was malnourished and threatened by her mother to give up her child. These additional allegations paint a disturbing picture of a potentially extensive pattern of child abuse and exploitation.
It’s hard to imagine monsters like this really exist…