Lake County woman indicted in deadly Rottweiler attack on 9-year-old girl

A Lake County woman has been formally indicted in a Rottweiler attack on her boyfriend’s 9-year-old daughter.

State Attorney Bill Gladson on Tuesday announced the grand jury indictment of 34-year-old Tyshael Elise Martin. 

The grand jury was convened to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to charge Martin for her role in the June 17 death of 9-year-old Jamaria Faith Sessions. The grand jury returned a true bill of indictment for charges of murder in the first degree (capital), aggravated manslaughter of a child and aggravated child abuse. 

Martin remains in custody on no bond status.

She was initially arrested by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 28 for murder in the first degree, aggravated manslaughter of a child from aggravated child abuse and aggravated child abuse from child neglect. 

Emergency personnel had been called to a Montverde home where the girl was found unresponsive.

An investigation conducted by the medical examiner’s office found that the girl’s injuries were consistent with physical abuse, according to a press release issued at the time.

Lake County sheriff’s detectives obtained video footage from the family’s security system. The videos reportedly showed that the little girl was “viciously” attacked by the family’s 103-pound Rottweiler. At the other end of the dog’s leash was Martin, who allegedly directed the dog to assault the child.

The little girl’s father, Lo Juan Sessions, is also facing a charge of aggravated manslaughter of a child.

Jamaria Sessions’ mother reportedly passed away a few years ago.