She waded into the river, tossed her daughter into the river, then waded out, the Tampa Police Department said.

TAMPA – A Tampa woman has been accused of murdering her 4-year-old daughter by tossing the child into the Hillsborough River, according to the Tampa Police Department.

Je’Hyrah Daniels, 4, was declared deceased at a hospital Thursday (Aug. 2) where she was taken after police divers pulled her unconscious body out of the water.

Shakayla Monae Denson, 26, of Tampa, was charged with one count each of first degree felony murder, aggravated child abuse, and grand theft auto.

Tampa police received a report about 4 p.m. that a woman had thrown a child into the Hillsborough River near just north of the Columbus Drive bridge. The TPD dive team went to the scene. About 4:30 p.m.
a dive team member discovered an unconscious child submerged about 75 feet offshore near N Rome Avenue and W Aileen Street. Je’Hyrah was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced deceased at 4:49 p.m., police said.

Officers said they quickly found Denson, who was walking nearby. They took her into custody.

The investigation determined that Denson had just stolen a car – a grey Nissan Altima – from Jordan Auto Repair at 5604 N 40th St. She parked the car on Rome Avenue just north of Aileen Street.

Police said witnesses told them that Denson waded into the Hillsborough River with her child. Roughly halfway across the river, she tossed the child and began wading out.

Tampa Police | Crime | Felony Murder | Arrests | Tampabay News

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