Couple Who Claimed Toddler ‘Fell’ in Bathtub Arrested After Post-mortem Uncovers Chilling Particulars

The kid’s mom, Zayla Goodwin, 20, and her boyfriend, Nathaniel Davis, 23, have been each taken into custody final week, in line with a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Workplace press launch, and are actually dealing with a number of costs in relation to her dying.

Goodwin was charged with aggravated manslaughter whereas her boyfriend was hit with a first-degree homicide cost, aggravated baby abuse, tampering with proof, and two counts of sexual battery.

All of this got here after the health worker decided on December 4, 2024, that the kid’s dying was a murder. Their workplace discovered proof of blunt power trauma, in addition to methamphetamine within the toddler’s system.

The couple had already been charged with neglect after police have been referred to as to their house a couple of medical emergency on September 10, 2024. There, they discovered Foe in cardiac arrest, unresponsive, and affected by “a number of accidents,” per News4Jax.

After being rushed to the hospital in what the arrest warrant described as “life threatening situation,” and medical doctors “not optimistic” of her survival, Foe died September 18.

Goodwin instructed police, in line with the possible trigger affidavit seen by Regulation & Crime, that she awoke that day to Davis yelling that he’d discovered the toddler face-down on her mattress. He was performing CPR on the toddler, per Goodwin’s assertion.

Investigators found that Foe had suffered fractures in a single arm and each of her legs. Additionally they reported ligature marks round her neck, in addition to proof of bruising and scratching “over your entire physique.” The physique additionally revealed proof having been sexually abused.

The couple’s house was additionally investigated, the place authorities uncovered bloody bandages, bloody diapers within the trash, and bloody blankets close to Foe’s mattress, in line with the arrest warrant, in addition to medication and drug paraphernalia.

Additionally they spoke with a girl who instructed them Goodwin, Davis, and Foe had moved in together with her 5 days earlier than the kid was taken to the hospital. She instructed sheriff’s deputies she’d requested about Foe’s accidents, and significantly why she appeared to have stopped strolling.

They stated Goodwin’s response was that the toddler “fell within the bathtub” every week in the past, per the affidavit, when Davis was bathing her at their earlier house.

Police spoke with a medical skilled with First Coast Little one Safety Staff, who suggested {that a} baby with leg accidents like these discovered on Foe would have been unable to bear their very own weight “given the extent of those fractures and the anticipated diploma of ache skilled.”

They stated that the leg fractures alone “would have prompted intense ache and any cheap caretaker would have sought medical consideration.” Primarily based on an examination of the kid, the professionals believed the accidents have been lower than 10 days outdated on the time of her dying.

The newborn’s father, Brandon Foe, spoke with News4Jax concerning the lack of his daughter, and appeared happy with the elevated costs for Goodwin and Davis.

“When the detectives confirmed me all of the proof they instructed me about, I knew I might be silly to consider they did not do it on goal,” he instructed the outlet. “The ready sport has been the toughest factor about it however now they upgraded the fees, I do know they’re going about it the way in which they stated they have been going to go about it.”

He additionally expressed his personal ache that he had been unable to assist his daughter. “It hurts me figuring out that I couldn’t be there as a father to guard my daughter,” he stated. “I’m certain every thing goes to go the way in which it is purported to. I simply hope they get punished in probably the most means they will.”

Each Goodwin and Davis are being held within the Jefferson County Jail with out bond.