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Florida mom ruled incompetent for trial in 4-year-old daughter's drowning

Shakayla Denson Mugshot
Posted at 1:55 PM, Dec 11, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-11 09:00:41-05

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A Florida woman accused of drowning her screaming 4-year-old daughter in a river in Tampa has been declared incompetent to stand trial.

Hillsborough Circuit Judge Kimberly Fernandez on Tuesday reviewed reports from three doctors who have examined 26-year-old Shakayla Denson since her August arrest.

The Tampa Bay Times reports the judge's ruling means Denson will be sent to a state hospital for treatment before the case can continue.

Police have said Denson stole a car Aug. 2 and drove to the Hillsborough River, which runs through Tampa. Then she allegedly dragged her screaming daughter, Je'Hyrah Daniels, into shoulder-deep water and let her go.

Currents swept Je'Hyrah away and she drowned.

Denson was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and grand theft auto.

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Information from: Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.), http://www.tampabay.com.

(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


Tampa mom accused of drowning 4-year-old daughter held without bond

TAMPA, FL (WWSB) - The mother accused of leaving her 4-year-old daughter in a river to drown will continue to be held in jail without bond. 

According to a Hillsborough County Court spokesperson, the judge granted the states' motion for pre-trial detention of Shakayla Denson, during a court hearing Wednesday.

The judge heard testimony from two witnesses during the hearing that lasted about three hours.

An arraignment will likely take place sometime in the next couple of weeks according to the Hillsborough County Court.  

Denson is charge with first degree murder, aggravated child assault and grand theft auto for allegedly taking her daughter to the Hillsborough River Wednesday Aug. 2, in a stolen vehicle, and leaving her to drown.

Officers located the child, identified as Je'Hyrah Daniels, approximately 30 minutes after she was left in the river near North Rome Avenue and West Aileen Street, about 75-feet offshore. The child was rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital but was pronounced dead at 4:49 p.m.

Copyright 2018 WWSB. All rights reserved.