"Toddler Jane Doe" - 2 yo (2010) - Lake City (W of Jacksonville) FL

A 2-year-old Lake City girl who was found Tuesday unresponsive in a
bathtub has died, and her caretaker has been charged with child abuse,
Lake City Police reported Friday.
Two others have been charged with child neglect, police said.
Officer Steve Shaw said the investigation is continuing, and additional charges could be filed.
Charged with aggravated child abuse on allegations she beat the child was April
Nicole Worthy, 22, of 939 S. Dixie Ave., Fort Lauderdale.
Charged with child neglect was Worthy's brother, Sammie Lee Worthy Jr., 20, of
1203 N.E. Coastline St., Lake City. His wife, Brittany Worthy, 22, also
was charged with aggravated child neglect.
"We are still in an ongoing investigation. We were able to arrest them on
these charges as we continue our investigation and hope to see more
charges coming," Shaw said.
The child's mother was out of town and had left the girl in the custody of
April Worthy, Shaw said. He added the mother and April Worthy have "a
relationship" but would not explain what sort of relationship.
The case began when police responded to an apartment at 1677 S.W. Camellia
Drive at about 4:31 p.m. on Tuesday. Officers met with rescue personnel,
who stated the child was having trouble breathing and did not look
well. The child had earlier been in the tub, and the case was initially
characterized as a near-drowning.
Police reported that the child was taken to Shands at the University of
Florida, where she died on Wednesday. The Medical Examiner's Office in
Jacksonville determined she died from abusive trauma to the head.Investigators from Lake City
Police, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State
Attorney's Office worked on the case. The apartment was processed for
evidence. Meanwhile, a witness told investigators April Worthy beat the
child on Saturday, causing bruising and skin punctures, Shaw reported.
The wounds were consistent with the Medical Examiner's report, Shaw added.
Shaw said police had enough probable cause to arrest the three Thursday night.
They were placed in the Columbia County Jail without bond.
Lake City Police Chief Argatha Gilmore said in a news release that she was pleased with the quick arrest.
“This was a horrific tragedy that an adult could inflict such intentional harm, causing the death of a child,” Gilmore said.

A caretaker and two other woman who were watching a 2-year-old girl while her mother was out of town are charged with murder in connection with the toddler's death.


April, Britani and Sammie Lee Worthy

Three women were indicted Monday on murder and other charges by a Columbia County grand jury, according to State Attorney Skip Jarvis Jr.The three are also charged with abusing a second, 18-month-old child.Police said they were called when paramedics who responded to a home on S.W. Camellia Drive found the 2-year-old having trouble breathing. The child was transported to Shands Medical Center in Gainesville, where the child died the next afternoon.The Medical Examiner's Office in Jacksonville determined the child died from abusive trauma to the head. Bruising and punctures of the skin that were consistent with the medical examiner's report.Britani Jquae Worthy and April Nicole Worthy were each charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated child abuse.Sammie Lee Worthy was charged with one count of second-degree murder and one count of aggravated child abuse.Authorities said the child's mother was out of town and left the toddler in the care of April Worthy. The name of the child and the victim's relationship with the three women was not released. No information was released about the 18-month-old who was allegedly abused.“This is a very unsettling case of the physical abuse of two young children," Jarvis said. "I am saddened by the findings of this investigation and the grand jury did its job in considering these charges.”

Britani J'Quae Worthy




Sammie Lee Worthy Jr.



April Nicole Worthy


Three adults have been indicted in connection with the slaying of one child and the aggravated abuse of another in Columbia County.

The indictment involves a July 27 incident in an apartment at 1677 S.W. Camellia Drive in Lake City.Police and paramedics said a 2-year-old girl who apparently had been in a bathtub was having trouble breathing. The case initially was characterized as a near-drowning. The child was taken to Shands at the University of Florida for treatment but died the next day. During an autopsy, the 3rd Judicial Circuit medical examiner determined the child died from abusive trauma to the head.The girl's mother was out of town and had left her in the custody of April Nicole Worthy, 22, of 939 S. Dixie Ave. in Fort Lauderdale.While the death of the little girl was being investigated, police said they discovered another child, an 18-month-old, who allegedly was being abused by the same three adults and who had been removed from their care.On Friday, a Columbia County grand jury indicted Worthy along with her brother, Sammie Lee Worthy Jr., 20, and his wife, Britani J'Quae Worthy, 22, both of 1203 N.E. Coastline St. in Lake City. All three were arrested shortly after the child's death. Charges filed against the three in late July after the girl died were replaced by the indictment.April and Britani Worthy are charged with one count each of first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated child abuse. Sammy Worthy is charged with second-degree murder and two counts of aggravated child abuse.


I'm posting this because it has more details, including the fact that they had already had a child removed from their custody before they murdered this little girl.

How well did the mother know these people when she entrusted her child's life to them?

And still, no name for this little girl????

TomTerrific0420 wrote:And still, no name for this little girl????

I can't find one. I'll call the reporter Monday and ask.

What would be the reason for not releasing her name?

According to police reports on those arrested, April Worthy, Sammie Worthy and Britani Worthy, the abuse had been going on for weeks. The children were made to stand in corners for hours without moving in the presence of the defendants. There were multiple visual signs of injuries on the victims’ bodies.

LCPD Officers responded to the apartment at 1677 SW Camellia Dr. on July 27, 2010 at about 4:31 p.m. in reference to Columbia County E.M.S. requesting assistance. The child was transported to Shands Hospital in Gainesville for treatment. The Child was pronounced dead on Wednesday July 28, 2010 at 4:00 pm. The Medical Examiner’s Office in Jacksonville determined the child died from abusive trauma to the head. The Worleys were arrested Thursday night. All three suspects were booked into the Columbia County Jail with no bond. The investigation continues.

“This was a horrific tragedy that an adult could inflict such intentional harm, causing the death of a child,” Chief Argatha Gilmore said.


Going on for weeks. Where was this baby's mother and why was she with these monsters? I can't imagine a child this young standing still for 5 minutes let alone hours.

twinkletoe wrote:

TomTerrific0420 wrote:And still, no name for this little girl????

I can't find one. I'll call the reporter Monday and ask.

What would be the reason for not releasing her name?

One reason may be they can't find the 'parents'. ??

Yes, there is that possibility. They would need to have parental OK to say that all relatives and friends have been informed so that the media isn't the informant, so to speak.

On Friday, a Columbia County grand jury indicted Worthy along with her brother, Sammie Lee Worthy Jr., 20, and his wife, Britani J'Quae Worthy, 22, both of 1203 N.E. Coastline St. in Lake City. All three were arrested shortly after the child's death. Charges filed against the three in late July after the girl died were replaced by the indictment.

April and Britani Worthy are charged with one count each of first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated child abuse. Sammy Worthy is charged with second-degree murder and two counts of aggravated child abuse.
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100908/ARTICLES/100909555/1002

bump

DEFENDANT=WORTHY, BRITANI

05/16/2011	CLERKS WORKSHEET
05/16/2011	OFFER OF PLEA
05/16/2011	SCORESHEET
05/16/2011	FINGER PRINT SHEET
05/16/2011	PLEA ACCEPTED
05/16/2011	DEFENDANT TO REMAIN IN CCJ UNTIL SENTENCING
05/16/2011	STATE WILL SET SENTENCING DATE-CALL OF COURT-

WORTHY, SAMMIE LOffense DateOffenseSentenceDateCountyCase No.Prison Sentence Length

07/11/2010	ABUSE CHILD	06/13/2011	COLUMBIA	1000622	5Y 0M 0D
07/11/2010	ACCESSORY AFT.FACT-OTHER	06/13/2011	COLUMBIA	1000622	5Y 0M 0D

http://www.dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=13&From=list&SessionID=22660075

DEFENDANT=WORTHY, APRIL NICOLE
EVENT DATEJUDGEDOCKET TYPELOCATIONPROSECUTORDEFENDANT ATTORNEY

08/08/2011 09:00:00	FINA, DAVID W	PRETRIAL CONFERENCE	COLUMBIA COUNTY COURTHOUSE : CTR	GETZAN ROBERTA O	WIRTH JOSEPH

https://www2.myfloridacounty.com/ccm/do/courtEvents?county=12&data=0714536d915e74c3c22d45350d1123bc

[DEFENDANT=WORTHY, SAMMIE LEE JR ]

06/27/2011 ORDER OF PROBATION
06/14/2011 JAIL CREDIT TIME CERTIFICATE--319 DAYS
06/13/2011 PROSECUTOR: DURRETT JOHN ASSIGNED
06/13/2011 DEFENDANT ENTERED PLEA OF GUILTY CNT: 2,CNT: 4
06/13/2011 DEFENDANT APPEARED PRES W/ATTY FOR NO TRIAL TRIAL CNT: 2
06/13/2011 ADJUDICATED GUILTY CNT: 2,CNT: 4
06/13/2011 DEFENDANT SENTENCED AS FOLLOWS - CNT 2:
06/13/2011 MIN CONF-PRISON FOR 5 YRS - CNT 2
06/13/2011 MAX CONF-PRISON FOR 5 YRS - CNT 2
06/13/2011 NOLLE PROSSED CNT: 3
06/13/2011 DEFENDANT APPEARED PRES W/ATTY FOR NO TRIAL TRIAL CNT: 4
06/13/2011 DEFENDANT SENTENCED AS FOLLOWS - CNT 4:
06/13/2011 MIN CONF-PRISON FOR 5 YRS - CNT 4
06/13/2011 MAX CONF-PRISON FOR 5 YRS - CNT 4
06/13/2011 REPORTING PROBATION FOR 10 YRS - CNT 4
06/13/2011 ASSESSED CF COURT COST 348.00 DUE 06/09/2026
06/13/2011 ASSESSED CF - CRIME PREVENTION 50.00 DUE 06/09/2026
06/13/2011 ASSESSED CF - FINE 2500.00 DUE 06/09/2026
06/13/2011 ASSESSED CF - 5% SURCHARGE 125.00 DUE 06/09/2026
06/13/2011 ASSESSED CF - CRIME STOPPERS 20.00 DUE 06/09/2026
06/13/2011 ASSESSED CF-STATE ATTNY INVST COST 100.00 DUE 06/09/2026
06/13/2011 CLERKS WORKSHEET
06/13/2011 OFFER OF PLEA
06/13/2011 SCORESHEET
06/13/2011 UNIFORM COMMITMENT, JUDGMENT,SENTENCE COSTS AND FINES SHEET
06/13/2011 PRISON SENTENCE TO RUN CONCURRENT WITH EACH OTHER
06/13/2011 JAIL CREDIT FROM 07-30-10 BY SPECIFIC STIPULATION OF
06/13/2011 THE DEFENDANT
06/13/2011 PROBATION TO RUN CONSECUTIVE TO PRISON SENTENCE
06/13/2011 SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF PROBATION--TESTIFY FULLY AND
06/13/2011 TRUTHFULLY AGAINST CO-DEFENDANTS IN ANY COURT PROCEEDI
06/13/2011 NO CONTACT WITH VICTIM OR CO-DEFENDANTS-NO CONTACT WIT
06/13/2011 WIFE UNTIL HER CASE IS OVER
06/13/2011 RESTITUTION TO BE DETERMINED WITHIN 60 DAYS
06/13/2011 CASE CLOSED

Seq # : 2 State Prison 05 Years

Sentence Status :
Date Imposed : 06/13/2011 Date Effective : 06/13/2011
Judge At Sentence : DOUGLAS, E VERNON
Seq # : 4 State Prison 05 Years , Probation 10 Years

Sentence Status :
Date Imposed : 06/13/2011 Date Effective : 06/13/2011
Judge At Sentence : DOUGLAS, E VERNON

https://www2.myfloridacounty.com/ccm/do/sentence?county=12&data=337d5f4b7ad53c473792eec02f87d170

April Worthy
08/10/2011 DEFENSE ATTY: PAYNE BLAIR M ASSIGNED
08/10/2011 PRETRIAL CONFERENCE SET FOR 09/26/2011 AT 09:00 IN
https://www2.myfloridacounty.com/ccm/do/docket?county=12&data=ac624bb82de588eb7ab0944a38ceeed6

09/27/2011 PRETRIAL CONFERENCE SET FOR 12/19/2011 AT 09:00 IN

https://www2.myfloridacounty.com/ccm/do/docket?county=12&data=efe314d16260318481579be735e2433e

April Worthy
12/19/2011 09:00:00 FINA, DAVID W PRETRIAL CONFERENCE COLUMBIA COUNTY COURTHOUSE : CTR GETZAN ROBERTA PAYNE BLAIR M

https://www2.myfloridacounty.com/ccm/do/courtEvents?county=12&data=8a0e04b078afe332406c66effe87258c

12/19/2011 PRETRIAL CONFERENCE SET FOR 02/06/2012 AT 09:00 IN
https://www2.myfloridacounty.com/ccm/do/docket?county=12&data=10a092f0a7d3a321aeb64d448e4ad1cb