DAYTONA BEACH, FL – Shamika Mitchell, a 38-year-old mom from Michigan, has been sentenced to fifteen years in jail after leaving her 1-year-old son to drown within the surf in Daytona Seashore final November. The horrifying incident occurred whereas Mitchell was visiting Florida from Detroit along with her kids.
Surveillance footage captured Mitchell strolling alongside the seaside along with her toddler shortly earlier than midnight. Simply minutes later, she was seen leaving the seaside alone. The kid was later found by a girl “on his fingers and knees, fingers buried within the sand as much as his wrists and waves have been crashing over his head,” in line with reviews.
Responding officers discovered the toddler unresponsive and instantly transported him to Orlando Well being Arnold Palmer Hospital. Miraculously, the kid recovered.
Mitchell initially lied to police, claiming she had left her son together with his father. Nonetheless, it was confirmed that the daddy was in Michigan on the time. The kid’s teenage sibling additionally made a 911 name, informing authorities that Mitchell had been experiencing psychotic episodes main as much as the incident.
At her sentencing, Mitchell obtained credit score for 449 days already served. Following her jail time period, she may also serve 15 years on probation. Whereas she confronted a possible sentence of 35 years, her public defender argued for leniency, citing her lack of prior prison document and documented psychological well being points.
