A Florida woman who was arrested last week for murdering her toddler son in April had lost custody of him and her two other children months earlier, according to reports.
Tracie Puskac, 36, is believed to have killed Jermiyah Puskac — who a July 7 autopsy report showed died from a skull fracture, subdural hemorrhage, and traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.
Villages-News.com reported that the autopsy contradicted Tracie Puskac’s claims that her son was banging his head onto the floor on April 26 and that he was “stiff as a board” when she put him to bed.
Tracie Puskac allegedly stated that she woke up the next day and found her son blue and taking short breaths. Tracie Puskac’s mother called 911 for her unresponsive grandson, but he died two days later.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Tracie Puskac provided several stories about what happened to her son. However, the Eighth Circuit Medical Examiner’s Office determined that none of them explained the traumatic injuries to his head and neck.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that the Department of Children and Families had an open case with Tracie Puskac at the time of the deadly incident. She allegedly claimed she did not get help for her son because she feared she would lose her children again.
Tracie Puskac told police at the time that she got her three kids back from foster care six months earlier and that DCF was going to close her case on May 31 — a month before her son’s death, according to WESH.
In 2020, Tracie Puskac was charged with child neglect without great bodily harm in a case that was later dropped.
She reportedly bit her elderly mother’s arm, and police who responded to the home found the victim bleeding from the arm while she allegedly held her then-18-month-old alongside a hammer. Police said the baby screamed in pain as Tracie Puskac fought a deputy who tried to take her child.
Tracie Puskac was charged on July 10 with second-degree murder. She remains jailed without bond.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Listen to the latest episode:
[Featured image: Tracie Puskac/Marion County Sheriff’s Office]
