Jacksonville, FL – Florida woman is behind bars and later charged with multiple charges, including aggravated manslaughter by child abuse in connection with her husband’s child’s death earlier this year. The 25-year-old woman, Cheyene, was taken into custody last week for the October death of 5-year-old RiIey. During the investigation process, authorities learned the woman reportedly left the boy outside, without any cIothes on, as a form of pnishment because the child reportedly injured one of her farm animals earleir that day. Authorities also said that the woman was sleeping inside the home while the child drwned in a manmade hoIe in their backyard.
The investigation process began after the 911 caller told the dispatcher about a drwned child at the family’s home. The responding officers realized that the child was not breathing and was covered in mud, without any cIothes on. The child was rushed to the hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. The medical examiner told investigators that the cause of the child’s death was drwning.
During an interview with investigators, the woman reportedly said that she was looking after the victim and his two siblings, 3 and 5 years old, while their father was at work. The woman also told investigators that she allowed the childrne to run outside. The woman also told investigators that she left the children for several minutes while she went inside to do the laundry. Shortly after, the woman reportedly heard one of the children yell that the victim is under water, but didn’t believe the child and continued with her work, local news outlet WFTS reported.
When the woman went outside, she realized that the child was missing and immediately went into the manmade hoIe their family friend dug earlier that day. The hole, which was next to animal pen, was filled with waste water from the animal pen. The woman jumped into the water and pulled the child out. The woman also told investigators that the child didn’t know how to swim. When questioned why she didn’t called 911 immediately, the woman reportedly said that her phone fell into the hole.
The victim’s dad said that he was at work when the fatal incident occurred. During the investigation process, authorities reportedly discovered that the woman left the child outside without any cIothes off as a form of punlshment because he reportedly injured one of her farm animals. One of the victim’s siblings also told investigators that while her brother was drwning, the woman was sleeping inside the home. The 25-year-old woman is being held without bond, court records say.