US woman unleashes pet Rottweiler to kill boyfriend's daughter, 9; arrested

A woman in Florida, US, has been arrested for allegedly directing her dog to attack and kill her boyfriend’s nine-year-old daughter, The Independent reported.

The victim, Jamaria Sessions, was found covered in blood and injuries on June 17 in Tyshael Elise Martin's house in Monteverde, Florida, by paramedics who had been called to assist an unresponsive child. They declared the girl dead shortly after arriving at the scene.

When the girl's father, Lojuan Sessions, reached home, he appeared "to be in disbelief," according to investigators, for he thought his daughter had travelled to California on June 9 to visit family. Martin, on June 10, had told Sessions through a text that her mother had taken his daughter to California.

Medical professionals on examination of the girl's body noted bruises and bite marks. A preliminary medical examiner's report suggested the various injuries were consistent with abuse. Her death was ruled by the medical examiner as a homicide.

Months after the investigation began, authorities acquired a warrant for the residence’s CCTV footage. The footage showed Martin holding the leash of the family's Rottweiler and giving it instructions while it mauled the little girl. The footage was captured two days before the girl's body was discovered, according to The Independent.

Police arrested and charged Martin, 34, with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and child neglect. Local reports stated that authorities believe Martin was frequently abused; she was punished violently, struck with objects and subjected to other kinds of punishments.

Sessions told investigators that he and Martin had been having frequent arguments, and he had moved out of her place recently. He said he wasn't able to accompany her on the planned trip because he was on felony probation.

Martin was booked into the Lake County Jail on August 28, where she remains lodged after being denied bail.

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