Florida Mom Blames 'Voodoo Spell' After Killing 3-Year-Old Daughter by Forcing Her to Drink Bleach

A Florida mom killed her 3-year-old daughter after forcing her children to drink bleach before ingesting some of the chemical herself.

According to Crime Online, Joanne Zephir and her 3-year-old daughter were found unconscious inside her car parked near a church in Osceola County Sunday morning.

The older sibling, an eight-year-old, was found in the roadway near the parking lot where the 36-year-old mom had parked. All three were reportedly taken to a hospital, where the 3-year-old child died.

Osceola County sheriff Marco Lopez said the older child was already released into the care of a family member after being treated.

Lopez noted that Osceola County police found the Florida mom and her children because they were tracking the cell phone of a woman wanted in Orange County for aggravated assault.

Florida Mom Blames 'Voodoo Spell' in Forcing Her Children to Drink Bleach

Police said Joanne Zephir was wanted for attempted murder in Orange County and was taken into questioning about the situation and what happened to her children.

According to WFLA, Lopez said the Florida mom told deputies that she would turn herself in but wanted to have time with her children first after taking them from her relative's home.

Lopez noted that Zephir called a family member and told her that she had killed her three-year-old daughter and that the older sibling would also die and she would kill herself.

The Florida mom admitted to authorities that she made her children drink bleach from a "makeshift drinking glass," and choked the 3-year-old child.

According to Lopez, Zephir said the reason for doing this to her children was "because the victim in Orange County must have put a voodoo spell on her" that made her harm her children.

However, the sheriff noted that the Florida mom's plans were interrupted when police arrived, saving the 8-year-old child's life. Lopez said Zephir would be charged with attempted murder and child abuse.

He noted that said murder charges are pending as authorities wait for the toxicology results on the deceased child from the medical examiner, Fox 35 Orlando reported.

Florida Child Abuse

Florida law requires that any person in the state who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is being abused, neglected, or abandoned should report it to the Florida Abuse Hotline of the Department of Children and Families.

According to the Florida Network of Children's Advocacy Centers, the penalty for failing to report is a felony of the third degree. There are also financial penalties for failing to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect.

Concerned citizens can call at 1-(800) 96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873) to report any case of child abuse or neglect.

The toll-free number is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with counselors ready to address your concerns.

Just be ready to provide information such as reporter name, victim name, complete address for subjects, telephone numbers, estimated or actual dates of birth, Social Security numbers, description of the abuse, and the relationship of the alleged perpetrator to the victim.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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