Woman Allegedly Messaged 10-Year-Old on Roblox to 'Drop' Baby on Ground, Slit Others' Throats

Mar. 15, 2025

Tara Alexis Sykes.Photo:Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Facebook

Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Facebook

A Florida woman is under arrest after police say she instructed a child to drop an infant on the floor and slit the throats of adults in a household before burning the victims.

Police in Escambia County, Fla., arrested 36-year-old Tara Alexis Sykes on a charge of attempted murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse, thecounty sheriff’s officesaid in a statement.

The sheriff’s office further alleges that Sykes gave the 10-year-old instructions to slit the throats of the adults temporarily living with the child. The minor was allegedly told to douse the sheets in the house with aerosol spray and set the adults on fire, per the statement.

The 10-year-old allegedly carried out some of the instructions: the child dropped the infant “on a solid tile floor” and doused the sheets, police allege. The child was unable to set the adults on fire, according to police.

Police did not announce any charges against the 10-year-old.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’sfree True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

“There is something really wrong with her,” Simmons said.

Officials at ECSO said there may be further charges as the investigation proceeds.

It wasn’t immediately clear if Sykes has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on her behalf.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com