A Florida woman is facing criminal charges connected to her 4-year-old daughter’s drowning death earlier this week.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, authorities responded to an area along the Hillsborough River on Thursday afternoon where they located the girl’s body in the water about 75 feet from the shore.
New updates from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office indicate local authorities had investigated the suspect, 26-year-old Shakayla Denson, for allegations of neglecting her daughter, Je’Hyrah Daniels.
Officials revealed that an “inadequate” review had been conducted in June and the case was closed just days before Daniels’ death, as reported by WBBH.
That child supervision investigation revealed no signs of “maltreatment, abuse or neglect,” according to the statement. County authorities noted that they will take a closer look at the initial case in light of Thursday’s incident.
When investigators interviewed the family in recent weeks, an investigator’s report described Daniels as a “happy and energetic” child.
Denson, however, appeared to be disappointed that her daughter suffered from unspecified disabilities.
Department of Children and Families Secretary Mike Carroll issued a statement expressing his commitment to seek justice in the case.
“I am horrified and disgusted that a mother would do this to an innocent child,” he wrote.
He went on to confirm that his department will do all it can to get to the bottom of the tragic series of events.
“DCF will work closely with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office child protective investigative unit to hold Je’Hyrah’s mother fully accountable for her actions under the law,” he wrote.
Carroll explained that he had also “ordered a comprehensive review of the prior investigation conducted by HCSO for inadequate supervision involving Je’Hyrah which closed with no indicators.”
Authorities have not announced a suspected motive for the crime.
As of the latest reports available, Denson was still being held in jail without bond.
[Featured image: WBBH, video screenshot]
