TAMPA (RNN) - A Tampa woman has been arrested after she allegedly threw her child into a river.
Shakayla Monae Denson, 26, is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated abuse in the death of her 4-year-old daughter. Denson is also charged with grand theft auto.
The Tampa Police Department received a report around 4 p.m. Thursday that Denson threw her 4-year-old daughter into the river near the Columbus Drive Bridge.
Police said Denson stole a vehicle from Jordan Auto Repair. She then parked the vehicle, and witnesses told police she waded into the Hillsborough River with her child. After getting halfway across the river, tossed her child and headed back to shore.
A dive team discovered the girl’s unconscious body and rushed her to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 4:49 p.m., police said.
Denson was walking nearby and was arrested. No bond has been set for her.
Denson had recently sought help for her daughter who she said was on the autism spectrum.
Copyright 2018 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
