A Florida couple has been charged in connection with the heartbreaking and brutal death of a toddler back in September 2024. Zayla Goodwin, 20, and Nathaniel Davis, 23, now face charges after allegedly physically and sexually abusing the toddler who, shockingly, had methamphetamine in their system at the time of their death.
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According to a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
news release, the toddler was found at a Jacksonville residence located in Taurus Cir N. back on September 10, 2024. Patrol officers arrived and discovered a young child, quickly rushing them to the Wolfson Children's Hospital.Upon arrival, doctors found multiple injuries in the child's body. The toddler died eight days later on September 18, 2024, and their death was ruled a homicide. A medical examiner determined that the toddler died of blunt force trauma. Additionally, at the time of their death, the toddler had methamphetamine in their system.
While the sheriff's office didn't share details about the toddler's age or gender, WJXT, in an October 2024 article, identified the toddler as 22-month-old Zamora Foe. Zayla Goodwin was Zamora's mother, while Nathaniel Davis was Zayla's boyfriend, as per the outlet.
Abuse
According to WJXT, Zamora had gone into cardiac arrest once the patrol officers. A warrant stated at the time that bloody bandages and blankets were found right next to Zamora's bed. Moreover, the search found bloody diapers in the trash. At the time, the warrant indicated that detectives believed that Zamora had been sexually abused.
Moreover, as per the warrant, a woman told detectives that Zayla, Nathaniel, and Zamora had moved to the house only five days before the incident. According to the woman, whose name was redacted, she began seeing bruises on Zamora's body and that she stopped walking. At the time, Zayla Goodwin allegedly told the woman that Zamora had injured herself after falling in the bathtub. Goodwin would tell the same to the police on the day of the incident.
At the time, before Zamora tragically succumbed to her injuries, Zayla Goodwin and Nathaniel Davis were charged with child neglect. They both pleaded guilty to the charges. However, months after Zamora died, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office arrested the Florida couple and upgraded their charges.
Zayla Goodwin was charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child. Nathaniel Davis was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of sexual battery, aggravated child abuse, and tampering with evidence.
"The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office will work with the State Attorney's Office to get the harshest punishment possible for this heinous crime against an innocent child. Children are our community's most precious asset," the sheriff's office concluded.
