Florida Mom Used Roblox to Order 10-Year-Old Daughter to Kill Infant
A 2-month-old baby in Florida was left with a skull fracture after a 10-year-old girl allegedly dropped him on a tile floor, an act investigators say the child carried out under instructions from her mother through the online gaming platform Roblox.
Authorities arrested 36-year-old Tara Alexis Sykes, accusing her of guiding her daughter on how to kill the infant. According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Sykes told the girl to drown the baby, burn him with scalding water, or drop him on the floor.
Investigators say she also pressured the child to harm the adults in the home, including instructions to slit their throats as they slept and burn down the house.
The girl reportedly told authorities she complied out of terror, believing her mother would kill her if she refused. The baby was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive.
Sheriff Chip Simmons said he was “truly disturbed,” adding he had never seen anything like this in his four decades in law enforcement. Sykes is currently being held without bond, while the 10-year-old is not expected to face charges.
This case raises serious alarms about the exploitation of children through online platforms and the extreme psychological coercion that can occur within families.
Every child has the right to life, safety, and protection from all forms of abuse. No child should ever be manipulated, threatened, or forced into violence.
