A Florida woman communicating with a 10-year-old child via the popular online game Roblox allegedly ordered them to burn an infant to death and slit the throats of their caretakers, according to authorities.
Detectives arrested 36-year-old Tara Sykes on a charge of attempted murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office announced Monday.
It's unclear if she entered a plea to the charge.
The investigation into the allegation against Sykes spurred Thursday when a Pensacola, Florida child advocacy nonprofit contacted the sheriff's office regarding the serious injuries suffered by a 2-month-old who was dropped on the kitchen floor by the 10-year-old.
Detectives learned the 10-year-old had allegedly been communicating with Sykes on Roblox and that she instructed them to kill the infant several ways.
"Sykes instructed the minor to drown the infant in the bathtub, burn the infant with scalding water, and drop the infant on the floor to kill the infant," the sheriff said.
She also allegedly instructed the child to kill the adults they were temporarily living with by slitting their throats, dousing them with aerosol spray and setting them on fire.
The 10-year-old doused the sheets but was unable to carry out the rest of the instructions.
"I have been in law enforcement for over 40 years and have never seen anything quite like this," said Sheriff Chip W. Simmons. "I am truly disturbed by the circumstances and the thought that anyone could think like this, let alone instruct these acts to be carried out. There is something really wrong with her."
