JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (WFLA) — A Jacksonville couple is charged with the death of a young child who authorities say they have multiple injuries and has methamphetamine.
Zayla Goodwin, 20, faces one count of aggravated manslaughter charges in a child. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reported that 23-year-old Nathaniel Davis was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of sexual assault and aggravating and tampering with child abuse.
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Investigators said the “brutal death” of the infant occurred in September 2024. The first report showed that there was a medical emergency at the home of Taurus Circle North. The child was rushed to Wolfson Children’s Hospital, where doctors said they found multiple injuries.
The Sheriff’s Office said the infant passed away on September 18, 2024.
The death was officially ruled murder on December 4, 2024, with the doctors saying the child died of blunt trauma. Investigators also found traces of the infant’s system, according to the sheriff’s office.
As a massive investigation continued, authorities said Goodwin and Davis were taken into custody on Thursday, March 20th for the death of a child. The big ju judge charged Davis with first-degree murder the same week.
“The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office can work with the State Attorney’s Office to obtain the most severe penalty for this heinous crime against an innocent child,” authorities wrote in a social media post Friday. “Children are the most valuable assets in our community.”
Anyone suspecting abuse is obligated to report it, the sheriff’s office added. The state’s child abuse hotline can be reached by calling 1-800-96-ABUSE.
