A Florida woman who allegedly conducted internet searches about signing away her parental rights was arrested and charged with the murder of her 4-month-old child.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested Johnisha Cole, 32, on Friday after conducting an investigation into her baby’s death.
According to a Facebook post that included body camera footage of Cole’s arrest, police first responded to Cole’s home in September after receiving a report that an infant was choking and had fallen unconscious.
The hospital took the baby and later pronounced him dead. Following a preliminary investigation into the baby’s injuries, which the police described as “cruel,” the medical examiner determined that the manner of death was homicide.
The detectives who investigated the case stated that Cole “never had explanations” for her baby’s injuries, which included “femur and multiple rib fractures, large areas of bruising, and severe abdominal bloating.” The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be abusive head trauma.
According to the sheriff’s office, the investigation included a search of Cole’s phone and internet history, which turned up suspicious information.
Cole allegedly went online to find answers to questions like “How long do you have to make a police report?” and “How to sign away parental rights?” She also allegedly texted others that she wanted the baby to die and had shaken her.
In the post, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno stated, “This case is cruel, and this infant has suffered deadly abuse from its mother her entire life.”
My heart aches for this child, yet my detectives remain committed to ensuring her justice through evidence collection and arrest. I am confident that my detectives will continue to work with the State Attorney’s Office to secure a conviction.
The charges against Cole include both manslaughter and aggravated child abuse. The court has scheduled her appearance for January 13 and is holding her without bail.
