JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On Friday, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office deputies released new interrogation videos detailing interviews with the two people charged with killing 5-year-old ZyKerria Robinson.
Action News Jax first told you when she died in October 2018 and her mother and mother’s boyfriend were arrested and charged with her death.
Investigators said the little girl was abused in an Oak Tree apartment on Jacksonville Westside.
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The video shows police questioning Michelle Cannimore and Jonte.
The video showed police questioning Cannimore and Harris about the death of ZyKerria.
Investigators said she died after suffering severe head trauma. During the investigation, however, evidence showed she had bruises all over her body that were in different stages of healing.
When police asked Cannimore and Harris about the marks they said she caused them herself.
Detective: “What about the marks on her eyes, the black eyes?”
“Hitting the wall 9 out of 10. Hitting the wall. She does that,” Cannimore said.
Cannimore and Harris said their family would go for a run every night, and since ZyKerria didn’t like it, she would often throw a fit.
“She likes to fall down and like to cry and throw a temper tantrum,” Cannimore said.
“She slid. That’s how she got her bruises,” Harris said.
Investigation showed the 5-year old had adult bite marks all over her body. She also had a bruise on her head. Cannimore said those wounds were also self-inflicted.
Cannimore and Harris are charged with murder aggravated child abuse.
Kathy Swafford is an advocate against child abuse and she’s now in close contact with the family who adopted ZyKerria’s sister. She said the child’s grandparents tried to get help. But their efforts were unsuccessful and, as a result, ZyKerria’s life was taken.
“It was obviously beatings. They (the grandparents) contacted DCF to try to get welfare checks on the kids. This could have been prevented. No child should ever die the way she did,” Swafford said.
Zykerria’s grandparents recently announced that they plan to sue the Department of Children and Families, saying the department knew there was a history of abuse and failed to act.
Now Swafford and the grandparents are hoping Cannimore and Harris will be punished for this gruesome crime.
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