Woman who allegedly instructed 10-year-old she met online to kill newborn in her home by dropping her on the kitchen floor will walk free
Tara A. Sykes appearing in Escambia County Court in October 2024 (WALA).
Posted For: Hauviette
A Florida woman accused of using an online platform to influence a child to harm a newborn and the adults in the home will serve no additional jail time after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Tara Alexis Sykes, 37, entered a no-contest plea on Jan. 22 in Pensacola to one count of child neglect without great bodily harm. In exchange, prosecutors dropped more serious charges, including solicitation and principal to first-degree murder. Judge Amy P. Brodersen sentenced Sykes to 11 months and 30 days, crediting her with 462 days already served—meaning her sentence is complete.
The case began after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was alerted on Oct. 17, 2024, by Gulf Coast Kid’s House about a 2-month-old who suffered serious injuries after being dropped by a 10-year-old. Investigators said Sykes and the child had communicated via Roblox, where she allegedly encouraged violent acts against the infant and the caregivers. Authorities said the child attempted some of the actions but did not fully carry them out.
Sheriff Chip W. Simmons described the allegations as deeply disturbing and unlike anything he had seen in decades of law enforcement. However, a spokesperson for Roblox told the Pensacola News Journal that an internal review did not find the violent instructions described by investigators.
Separately, Sykes and her husband were arrested earlier in 2024 on child-neglect charges for allegedly allowing a 20-year-old man who impregnated their 14-year-old daughter to live in their home. According to court records reviewed by Law&Crime, deputies found the girl 31 weeks pregnant and malnourished. Authorities said the parents knew about the abuse but did not report it and later demanded money from the man’s family.
The man, identified as Kyle Myers, was not charged over the pregnancy but pleaded no contest to sending a threat and received a 20-month prison sentence.
Sykes is scheduled to appear in court again on April 8.
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