Florida prosecutors announced on Tuesday that they are seeking the death penalty against a woman charged with murdering her 3-year-old daughter in 2022.
Joanne Zephir, 38, reportedly forced her daughters, ages 8 and 3, to drink bleach outside a church in Poinciana. Zephir then strangled the youngest child to death and tried to take her own life, according to WKMG.
Police were already looking for Zephir because she allegedly had stabbed her husband hours earlier. Zephir had told her family that she wanted to spend time with her children before turning herself in, according to WKMG.
Zephir’s 8-year-old daughter and husband were hospitalized for their injuries and survived.
“As to the facts of this offense and the Defendant’s prior record, sufficient aggravating circumstances do exist to justify the imposition of the death penalty as to this Defendant in this case,” prosecutors said in Tuesday’s filing.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that Zephir — who claimed a “voodoo” spell made her hurt her daughters — was found fit to stand trial late last year.
Zephir’s trial is scheduled to begin in July.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Feature Photo: Joanne Zephir/Osceola County Sheriff’s Office]
