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Jamaria Sessions death: Tyshael Martin interviewed about alleged beating of boyfriend's 9-year-old daughter

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Published  February 6, 2025 12:02am EST
Lake County
FOX 35 Orlando

Woman interviewed about death of boyfriend's 9-year-old daughter

Newly released video footage reveals detectives questioning Tyshael Martin, the woman accused of beating 9-year-old Jamaria Sessions to death, in June.

The Brief

    • Detectives questioned Tyshael Martin for hours about the June death of 9-year-old Jamaria Sessions, who was found severely injured and malnourished.
    • Martin and Jamaria’s father, Lo Juan Sessions, were arrested for first-degree murder and child neglect.
    • Authorities later admitted to missing a welfare check request that could have intervened.

Newly released video footage reveals detectives questioning Tyshael Martin, the woman accused of beating 9-year-old Jamaria Sessions to death, in June.

What we know:

Detectives spoke with Martin for nearly three hours regarding the child's death. Sessions was found naked, unresponsive, and covered in bruises and puncture marks.

Authorities previously arrested Martin and the child’s father, Lo Juan Sessions, in August on charges of first-degree murder and child neglect. 

Surveillance footage cited in the arrest report showed the family's 103-pound dog viciously attacking the child. Reports also allege that Jamaria was kicked, dragged, and pushed before her death.

What we don't know:

While Martin denied killing Sessions, it remains unclear to what extent she was responsible for the child's fatal injuries, and she maintains her innocence. The exact sequence of events leading to the child's death has not been fully detailed, and authorities have not confirmed whether the injuries were primarily caused by sustained abuse.

Questions remain about the role of the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and why an earlier welfare check request did not lead to further intervention. It is unknown whether previous warning signs of abuse were overlooked.

The backstory:

Jamaria Sessions lived with her father, Lo Juan Sessions, and his girlfriend, Tyshael Martin, in a home where authorities now say she endured severe abuse. Reports indicate that the child suffered repeated physical punishment, malnutrition, and injuries possibly inflicted by the family’s large dog.

Prior to her death, DCF had received concerns about her well-being and requested a welfare check at the Sessions' home. However, no deputy was sent, and the case was ultimately closed without action. In hindsight, law enforcement officials have expressed regret over this decision.

Officials said in their report that Sessions was frequently punished by unusual means, including extended wall sits, being forced to run in place with her arms up or forced to run a treadmill, being struck with various items, and often kicked, punched, or pinched.

What they're saying:

During her interview with detectives, Martin insisted, "I just want to say I didn’t kill her; I didn’t murder her." 

When a detective pointed out that she never asked about Jamaria’s cause of death, Martin responded, "Because when I asked, everyone doesn’t tell me anything." The detective countered, "But you haven’t asked."

The detective described Jamaria’s suffering as "death by a thousand cuts," explaining, "She’s been whipped, she’s been pinched, she’s been punched, bitten on the back of the head by a dog possibly, all of these injuries her little body is trying to fix all at one time, and then she’s not given nutrition, proper amounts of water."

A Lake County Sheriff's sergeant involved in the case admitted regret over the missed opportunity to intervene, writing in a memo, "I should have sent someone to the call or gone myself. From the second I learned of the incident, I have been sick to my stomach and not sleeping well. If I could change my response that day, I would."

Grandmother of Jamaria Sessions on son's arrest

The father of 9-year-old Jamaria Sessions has been arrested in connection to his daughter's brutal death, the Lake County Sheriff's Office announced Friday. The child's grandmother spoke exclusively to FOX 35's Stephanie Buffamonte about the arrest of her son, Lo Juan Sessions, Jamaria's biological father.

Big picture view:

The case raises concerns about child welfare oversight and law enforcement response to abuse reports. The failure to act on a welfare check request has drawn scrutiny over possible gaps in the child protection system.

Moving forward, it may prompt further examination of DCF procedures and law enforcement protocols to prevent similar tragedies.

What's next:

Florida prosecutors late last year announced that they plan to seek the death penalty against Tyshael Martin in the brutal death of Jamaria Sessions.

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Lake County Sheriff's Office, and the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Lake CountyCrime and Public Safety