
In November 2023, Shamika Mitchell, 38, traveled to Florida from Michigan with her children in a rented van. The family went to the beach for fun, but sadly, things took a life-changing turn. Mitchell reportedly abandoned her 21-month-old son near the water. Thankfully, a Good Samaritan spotted the child and likely saved his life. A judge recently handed down the mother’s fate.
According to the Daytona News-Journal, a guard saw Mitchell walking down a beach access staircase with her toddler shortly before midnight. A few minutes later, she reportedly returned but without the child. The guard called 911, concerned for the child’s safety. Mitchell’s 17-year-old son reportedly questioned his mother about where the baby was.
Nearly an hour later, a couple found the child in the water on his hands and knees with his hands buried in the sand to his wrists. They called 911 for help, and emergency crews took him to Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Thankfully, he recovered, WESH reported.
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A court found Mitchell guilty of unlawful desertion of a child and aggravated child abuse. She faced a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison.
Assistant Public Defender Rachel Brothers reportedly asked for the minimum sentence for her client, citing mental health struggles, the News-Journal reported. Brother said her client had a difficult childhood and suffered from depression and anxiety. She added that her client had no prior criminal history.
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Assistant State Attorney Ashley Terwilliger disagreed and called for “not one day less than the maximum” sentence for Mitchell. The prosecutor claimed the mother used drugs while serving as the sole caregiver for the child.
On January 30, 2025, Circuit Judge Karen Foxman sentenced Mitchell to 15 years in prison, followed by 15 years of probation. She will receive credit for the 449 days she’s already been incarcerated. Following her prison time, she will be prohibited from spending unsupervised time with minors. According to the News-Journal, Foxman said she took into account Mitchell’s mental health when handing down the sentence but also considered the fact that the mother repeatedly lied to police.