*Editor's note: Some of the details below may be disturbing.
FINAL UPDATE:
The arrest, probable cause affidavit has been released regarding Raymona Ford. Documents show police showed up to her home on Magnolia Drive on May 9th for a report of a possible drowning involving a toddler.
Ford told police that after she fed her children, and that her two-year-old made a mess and decided to bathe him. Ford then told police that the bottom faucet didn't work properly, and she would routinely run the water through the upper shower faucet. She also noted that the drain didn't work properly and that water wouldn't hold in the tub, and would slowly drain out.
Documents state that Ford told police she stepped out of the bathroom to attend to her one-year-old and clean up the kitchen. She told police the stove was still on and that a pot was smoking. She told police that she checked on the toddler within a minute and found him floating face-up in the tube with "bubbles" coming out of his nose. Ford then told police she called the child's grandmother on his father's side for help and not 911. She told authorities she performed CPR and that the child coughed up water.
The child was taken to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital with no brain function, where he was put on a ventilator. EMS personnel also noted seizure-like behavior. He was taken off life support four days later, on May 13th.
Documents say that after the child was taken to the hospital, Ford agreed to do a walk-through of the incident, and police determined there were several inconsistencies, including how long she left the child unattended, that there was little evidence of a stove-top emergency, and how long she left him unattended. She originally told police it was only for 1-2 minutes, but later said it could have been 3-5.
An autopsy was performed and found that the boy suffered from acute trauma to the head and neck, which likely caused seizures, resulting in complications from water submerging, and the child's death was ruled a homicide.
Documents state that, following these findings, along with the inconsistencies in Ford's story that she likely hit the child, causing him to have a seizure and drown in the tub. They say Ford also took measures to conceal her involvement in the abuse, which ultimately led to the child's death.
On Wednesday, August 13th, Ford admitted to police that she hit the child in the head three times before placing him in the tub. She told police she hit him due to his behavior and making a mess of himself and the home.
Documents also state this wasn't the first drowning incident with the child involving Ford. Police say the first incident happened in 2023 while in her care when the boy was just 11 months old. It wasn't reported as suspicious at the time.
READ FULL AFFIDAVIT BELOW. SOME OF THE DETAILS IN THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE DISTURBING.
UPDATE:
The woman charged in the death of a 2-year-old boy made her first court appearance Thursday. 24-year-old Raymona Ford faces one count of homicide and one count of cruelty towards a child, aggravated battery.
Ford appeared by Zoom and told the judge she wants to hire her own attorney, but says she only has just under $1000. Judge William Gary says he doesn't think that's enough.
The state has filed a motion for pre-trial detention for both counts, and Ford has an Arthur hold, which is a hearing to determine if she'll get bond.
Original:
A 24-year-old in Tallahassee faces murder charges after a 2-year-old drowned in a bathtub back in May.
Tallahassee Police arrested Raymona Ford on Wednesday after consulting with the State Attorney's Office and conducting a months-long investigation.
Police say Ford hit the child multiple times, causing him to have seizures. They say Ford then left the 2-year-old unattended in a bathtub.
First responders went to the Magnolia Terrace Apartments after hearing reports of a drowning. They performed life-saving measures and sent the child to the hospital. He died 4 days later.
Along with a murder count, Ford also faces an aggravated child abuse charge.
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