A Florida mom was indicted on a murder charge in the death of her 5-year-old autistic son, whose body was found inside of a trash bag, authorities say
A grand jury has indicted a woman on a first-degree murder charge in the death of her 5-year-old child, whose “emaciated” body was found inside of a trash bag along a Florida bay in February, according to authorities.
Jalynda Smith and her non-verbal autistic son, Jakaiden Smith, were reported missing on February 5 by Jalynda’s mother, according to an arrest report. Jalynda’s sister also called law enforcement on February 6, after she could not find her sister or her nephew at Jalynda’s home that day, the report says. The morning of February 6, the arrest report states that someone called authorities about the discovery of the “body of a small child” inside a “trash bag along the waterline” of Perdido Bay near Lillian Highway, located in the Florida Panhandle. After authorities confirmed that the body belonged to Jakaiden, Escambia County sheriff’s deputies continued to search for Jalynda, 36, who was located and arrested later that same day, according to the sheriff’s office. The deputy who wrote Jalynda’s arrest report described seeing Jakaiden’s body “wrapped in blankets and towels” inside the trash bag. The boy was only wearing a diaper and he “appeared emaciated,” the deputy added in the report. In addition to first-degree murder, Jalynda was also indicted on Thursday, March 26, on a charge of tampering with evidence, according to the Office of State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.An attorney appointed to represent Jalynda did not immediately return Us Weekly’s request for comment on Monday, March 30. According to an autopsy conducted by a medical examiner, Jakaiden weighed about 20 pounds when he died, according to the arrest report.The medical examiner did not find any additional signs of trauma, according to the arrest report. Before the boy’s death, investigators discovered that the Florida Department of Children and Families had received two reports about Jalynda and her son, the arrest report says. In a report made in October 2025, Jalynda was accused of leaving Jakaiden home by himself “while she drove for a ride share company,” according to the arrest report. “The report was closed” after it was determined that Jalynda “was meeting the child’s needs” and that her son “was safe” with her, the arrest report says. An earlier 2022 report made with the Department of Children and Families was also related to Jalynda allegedly leaving Jakaiden home alone, according to the report. That same year, she was arrested on a child neglect charge in connection with leaving Jakaiden at home, FOX10 News reported.If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
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