In a tragic and shocking case out of Lake County, Florida, 34-year-old Tyshael Elise Martin has been arrested for the brutal killing of her boyfriend’s 9-year-old daughter, Jamaria Sessions. Martin faces serious charges including first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and child neglect in connection with the young girl’s death.
The harrowing details emerged when authorities responded to an emergency call in mid-June about a child who was found unresponsive at Martin’s residence in Monteverde. Despite the swift arrival of first responders, little could be done to save Jamaria, who was discovered with severe injuries that prompted an immediate investigation.
The medical examiner’s report revealed that the injuries were consistent with severe physical abuse, but the true horror of the case only came to light after authorities reviewed footage from the family’s home security system. The video footage, recorded on June 15, showed disturbing scenes of Martin actively encouraging violence against the young girl.
According to detectives, the footage captured Martin orchestrating a horrifying attack involving the family’s Rottweiler, a dog weighing over 100 pounds. In the footage, Martin is seen directing the dog to attack Jamaria, who is already in a vulnerable state. The situation escalated further as Martin is alleged to have kicked the child repeatedly while she lay on the ground. Witnesses noted that Martin even threatened the child, possibly saying, “I’m fixin’ to kill her,” during the assault.
The affidavit reveals the chilling progression of the violence. The video shows Jamaria, initially in a partial bun, disheveled and with her hair falling out, clearly having been attacked by the dog at Martin’s command. As the child lay on the ground, Martin continued her assault by kicking Jamaria in the hip and stomach with full force. Eventually, Martin dragged the motionless child across the floor by her hair.
Lt. John Herrell of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office described the case as one of the most disturbing he has ever encountered. “They got the act of Martin severely, savagely beating Jamaria in the nights leading up to her death. In my time here, I don’t think I have ever seen anything so graphic and like I said, savage is an appropriate word to describe this,” he said. Herrell added that reading the arrest affidavit was profoundly unsettling, underscoring the immense difficulty faced by detectives piecing together such a grim case.
Further evidence from interviews, text messages, and additional videos revealed that Jamaria was subjected to extensive and brutal punishments, including wall sits, running exercises, and other forms of physical abuse. The autopsy report, released last week, confirmed that the young girl’s death resulted from multiple blunt force injuries to her head, torso, and other parts of her body.
This horrific case shines a spotlight on the urgent need for vigilance in protecting vulnerable children and brings to light the darkest aspects of child abuse. As Lake County grapples with the aftermath of this tragedy, the community is left to ponder how such unspeakable cruelty could go unchecked and the measures needed to prevent future tragedies.
