Florida – A Florida parent was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder in the death of her addopted child, Samaiah, 7. The 56-year-old defendant was also found guilty on two counts of aggravated child abuse involving the victim’s siblings, who were six and twelve years old at the time.
The investigation began in November 2018, when emergency responders were called to the parent’s, Gena, home in Florida after the child was found unresponsive. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Homicide detectives observed bruises and marks on the victim’s body, prompting them to contact the Department of Children and Families. An investigation revealed signs of abuse on her two sisters as well.
According to court records, the defendant had been fostering the children since 2014 and formally adopted them in 2017. The children reported enduring severe abuse, including being chained to furniture, having socks tied around their eyes, being burned on the stove, and being forced to stand for long periods. They also described being forced to eat human waste and being denied food and water.
During the trial, the victim’s sibling testified that the defendant would chain them to their beds and instruct them to lie to investigators about their injuries. The medical examiner determined that the victim died from acute and chronic physical abuse, with injuries covering her entire body.
The parent was arrested one year after the murder and initially charged with multiple counts of aggravated child abuse and neglect. Her nursing license was suspended shortly after her arrest and permanently revoked the following year.
The victim, who had been placed in foster care after being born to a drug addict mother, was reportedly found covered in bruises, burns, and open wounds. According to allegations, the adoptive parent burned the child on a stove after she took bread to eat and later forced her to drink bleach when she said she was thirsty.
The parent also tied socks around the eyes of the girl, her two sisters—ages 13 and 7—and their 5-year-old brother. In addition, official documents allege that the woman chained the children to their beds and instructed them to lie to investigators about the source of their injuries.
The parent is scheduled to appear in court again for her sentencing hearing on April 30. She faces a mandatory sentence of life in a state correctional facility without the chance of parole.