Tallahassee FL woman beat 3-year-old boy repeatedly with tire iron before his death

just damn -
this story has details of a small child's violent beating death.
DO NOT READ if you may be too disturbed.

10/21/20

The woman arrested in the killing of a 3-year-old boy confessed to police that she beat him to death with a tire iron while he was brushing his teeth — and that he was likely dead by the time she took him to the hospital.
Te’Lea Jefferson, 23, was arrested Tuesday on charges of murder and aggravated battery in the death of the little boy. She lived with him and his 6-year-old brother, both of whom suffered abuse in the past, and one of their parents, according to court records.
Te'Lea Jefferson


Back story:Tallahassee police arrest woman in 'suspicious death' of 3-year-old boy

Arrest records detail a gruesome scene. During Jefferson’s interview with investigators, she recalled seeing blood spray from the boy as she swung the tire iron at his head.
She arrived at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital at 6:58 p.m. with the boy, who had severe trauma to his head and face and was unresponsive, with a body temperature of 88 degrees. He was pronounced dead six minutes later by medical staff, who contacted police.
Jefferson told officers that the little boy was standing on the sink and brushing his teeth when he fell off and struck his head on the toilet, causing the porcelain to shatter.
But his injuries “were not consistent with the fall described by Jefferson,” court records state. He had severe cuts on his face and hands, bruises on his arms and legs and signs of older injuries, including scars, on his shoulder and torso.
Jefferson said she sent the boy to brush his teeth around 3:30 p.m., about 20 minutes after his older brother came home from school. No one else was home at the time. She said she tried to care for him after the so-called fall for about ten minutes before driving him to the hospital.
But when investigators pointed out that her timeline didn’t add up, she admitted she attacked him after she ordered him to get down off the sink.


“His refusal to climb down when told angered her,” the arrest report says. “Jefferson said that she walked into the bedroom and retrieved the tire iron from a tool kit. She advised that she returned to the bathroom and threw the tire iron at (him), striking him upon the side of the face.”
She initially said she struck him only once but later admitted she hit him several times, including after he tried to run away from her. Afterward, she hid the tire iron somewhere outside the residence.
“She would admit that (the boy) was likely deceased prior to transporting him to TMH,” the arrest report says. “Jefferson indicated that he was unresponsive and that as she carried him out to the vehicle she suspected that he was no longer alive.”
She also admitted that she had used physical force against the preschooler and his brother during “prior incidents.” She said she was in a relationship with a parent of the boys and watched them about five times a week while the parent was at work.
“She would indicate that (the 3-year-old boy) was stubborn and say that he often required more strikes or blows than his older sibling,” the police report says.
Previous incidents of abuse are under investigation by the Florida Department of Children and Families. The state agency has taken custody of the boy’s older brother, according to court records.
Jefferson is being held without bond in the Leon County Detention Facility. During her first court appearance Wednesday, she said she intends to hire a private attorney to represent her. Leon County Judge Stefanie Morris continued the proceeding until Thursday so her attorney can be present.
In the wake of the charges, TPD is encouraging people to report child abuse by calling police at 850-891-4200, Crime Stoppers at 850-570-TIPS or the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873.


 
Last edited:
adding links to follow this case




 
Previous incidents of abuse are under investigation by the Florida Department of Children and Families. The state agency has taken custody of the boy’s older brother, according to court records.

Jefferson is being held without bond in the Leon County Detention Facility. During her first court appearance Wednesday, she said she intends to hire a private attorney to represent her. Leon County Judge Stefanie Morris continued the proceeding until Thursday so her attorney can be present.

 
Court documents reveal heartbreaking and disturbing new details in the death of a three-year-old in Tallahassee.

Te'Lea Jefferson was supposed to be watching over her girlfriend's three-year-old son, Miguel.

She says that afternoon the two got in a fight and Miguel wound up dead.

Jefferson told officers it all started because Miguel was brushing his teeth and wouldn't get off the sink.

Jefferson told officers a few different versions of this story but eventually admitted going into her toolbox to find a way to punish him.

Jefferson later admitted to the police she delayed taking him to the hospital and hid the weapon outside.

The boy's mother, Erica Jenkins said Jefferson called her that day to say the boy had a cut. That's when Jenkins asked Jefferson to take Miguel to the hospital.

Jenkins says she's still trying to come to grips with what happened to her son.

"This is not a stranger my child was with, this is someone I have loved and been in a relationship with for four years," said Jenkins. "And she took my baby away from me."

Investigators say more charges could come for other people involved as it is an ongoing investigation.

 
"This is not a stranger my child was with, this is someone I have loved and been in a relationship with for four years," said Jenkins. "And she took my baby away from me."

I'm sorry. But in the 4-year relationship, she did not one day randomly decide to attack one of your children with a tire iron. People don't go from zero to tire iron.

He had severe cuts on his face and hands, bruises on his arms and legs and signs of older injuries, including scars, on his shoulder and torso.
 
I haven't been able to find updates & T'
Lea Johnson was supposed to be in court last Thursday

I'll continue to monitor local news.
Hopefully she's unconscious from blows to the head 🙊 Lord forgive me for hoping so...
 

State seeking death penalty against woman accused of beating child with tire iron​

Prosecutors are now seeking the death penalty against a Tallahassee woman accused of beating a toddler to death with a tire iron.

The state filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Te’Lea Jefferson Monday morning.

The official notice of intent to seek the death penalty cites several aggravating circumstances including that the crime was “especially heinous, atrocious and cruel.”

Jefferson’s next court appearance is now scheduled for Dec. 7, 2020.
 

State seeking death penalty against woman accused of beating child with tire iron​

Prosecutors are now seeking the death penalty against a Tallahassee woman accused of beating a toddler to death with a tire iron.

The state filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Te’Lea Jefferson Monday morning.

The official notice of intent to seek the death penalty cites several aggravating circumstances including that the crime was “especially heinous, atrocious and cruel.”

Jefferson’s next court appearance is now scheduled for Dec. 7, 2020.
YES!
 

Tallahassee woman accused of killing toddler with tire iron indicted on first-degree murder charges​

A Tallahassee woman accused of beating a toddler repeatedly with a tire iron has just been indicted on first-degree murder charges.

Te’lea Jefferson entered a not guilty plea to the upgraded charges in front of a judge Thursday morning.

A grand jury returned the first-degree murder indictment, as well as one for aggravated child abuse, on Wednesday.
 

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