TAVARES, Fla.—The woman accused of brutally torturing and murdering her boyfriend’s daughter appeared in court Thursday.
Only Inside Lake was in the courtroom as Circuit Judge Heidi Davis questioned Tyshael Martin, 35, about retaining an attorney. Martin, who still does not have an attorney of record, more than two months after her arrest, told Davis she has retained Sean Landers, but he has not filed a notice of appearance yet due to him being out of town.
Assistant State Attorney Thomas Wieczorek asked the court to keep Martin’s case on the docket for November for both a pre-trial conference to ensure she has retained an attorney, and a plea negotiation conference. He also asked the record reflect the state filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty in Martin’s case.
“Oct. 8, the same date that notice was filed with the court, defendant Martin was also personally served with that notice at the Lake County Jail,” Wieczorek said.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Martin is accused of killing 9-year-old Jamaria “Mari” Sessions in June after abusing and torturing her for nearly eight months after her father, Lojuan Sessions, picked her up from school in October 2023. Sessions took Jamaria and her little sister, Jaliah, from school that day without permission or notice to the girls’ grandmother Althea Chenault. Chenault had been helping care for the girls throughout their mother, Tadrina Dort’s fight against leukemia, and after her death from congestive heart failure in 2022. Chenault is also listed as Jamaria’s next of kin in Martin’s case and Martin was ordered not to have any contact with Chenault at an earlier court appearance.
Chenault and her son, Trane Chenault and daughter, Laquanda Beacham, were in attendance for Thursday’s hearing and the family plans to attend each time Martin or Sessions appears in court.
TAVARES, Fla.— The woman charged with the horrific murder of her boyfriend’s daughter earlier this year is now facing the death penalty.
Assistant State Attorney Thomas Wieczorek filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty Oct. 8 in the case against Tyshael Martin, of Montverde, and stated five aggravating factors in the case.
The capital felony was committed while the defendant was engaged, or was an accomplice, in the commission of, or an attempt to commit aggravated child abuse.
The capital felony was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel.
The capital felony was a homicide and was committed in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification.
The victim of the capital felony was a person less than 12 years of age.
The victim of the capital felony was particularly vulnerable because the defendant stood in a position of familial or custodial authority over the victim.
Martin, 35, is accused of ordering a 103-pound Rottweiler to attack 9-year-old Jamaria Sessions and savagely kicking and beating the girl during a reign of abuse that lasted from October 2023 until she died in June, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in the case.
Martin was arrested Aug. 28, for first degree murder, aggravated child abuse and child neglect. Jamaria’s father, Lojuan Sessions, was arrested just a few days later in Orange County; he is charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child and both suspects are being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond.
Video surveillance in the home captured the torture and abuse of the once-smiley 9-year-old who loved animals and yearned to be a veterinarian.
Jamaria Sessions dreamed of being a veterinarian, Grandma Althea Chenault said. Photo courtesy of Althea Chenault
According to the affidavit, Vivint Security provided more than 2,800 videos from inside and outside of the home to Lake County Sheriff’s Office detectives. Six video files dated June 15 and timestamped between 11:50 p.m. and 11:57 p.m. showed both Martin and the large dog attacking Jamaria. The following information was taken directly from the affidavit:
(Videos show) “Jamaria Sessions being viciously attacked by the family pet, a 103-pound male rottweiler as Jamaria was just out of frame, however, Tyshael Martin could be seen holding the leash of the dog and is heard encouraging the dog to bite Jamaria Sessions as Jamaria laid on the floor, ending with Jamaria Sessions attempting to stand up in the doorway coming into frame. The next clips show Jamaria Sessions staggering, nude and disheveled. Jamaria’s hair, previously in a partial bun, was now messy, and her extensions were falling out of her hair. It appeared that the dog had bitten the child’s head, pulling at her hair, at the command of Tyshael Martin. Following this clip, Jamaria Sessions is commanded to stand in the room with her arms up by Tyshael Martin. Jamaria Sessions exhibited an orbital sway, appearing to be disorientated, similar to being intoxicated, and leaned forward to pick up a blanket to cover herself. This prompted Tyshael Martin to deliver a kick to the rear of the child causing her to collapse to the floor. The child lay motionless, moaning in pain, as Tyshael Martin continued to kick her hip and eventually her stomach area at full force. When the child did not get up, Tyshael Martin then grabbed the child by her hair, pulling her across the floor, with minimal resistance by Jamaria Sessions, who appeared to be disorientated and motionless. The child was dragged near the stairs, which is where the dog attack occurred, which was just out of frame. Tyshael Martin continued to command the child, Jamaria Sessions, to stand up, and as Jamaria physically could not comply, Jamaria was repeatedly struck and shaken by Tyshael Martin. The next video clip begins with Tyshael Martin stating what sounds like, ‘I’m fixing to kill her.’”
Jamaria was found dead less than 30 hours later.
Shortly before 5 a.m. June 17, Lake EMS responded to 16017 Harbar Oaks Drive, Montverde, Martin and Sessions’ home, on a report of an unresponsive child. The would-be fourth grader was pronounced deceased by Lake EMS, and they observed multiple injuries to Jamaria including a “significant” number of abrasions, small punctures, burns, possible bite marks and bruising covering her body, all in various stages of healing. Lake EMS requested the Lake County Sheriff’s Office respond after noting rigor mortis in Jamaria’s jaw. According to Florida State University, if a body feels cold and stiff, death likely occurred between 8 and 36 hours prior.
During an on-scene preliminary exam of Jamaria by the medical examiner, injuries were noted all over her small body, consistent with abuse. These injuries included superficial lacerations indicative of being pinched with significant force, her face was swollen, some of her teeth were broken, she had blood in her left ear along with a penetration wound behind her ear, and contusions all over her body. On June 18, during Jamaria’s autopsy, the medical examiner noted the number of superficial injuries covering the majority of her body, and advised it appeared to be torture inflicted by fingernails and injuries consistent with being struck by something, possibly wire.
Tyshael Martin was arraigned on Sept. 23. PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake
On Sept. 23, Martin and Session were indicted by a grand jury and Inside Lake was in the courtroom when Martin pleaded not guilty to the crimes she is accused of. She claimed to have a meeting scheduled with an attorney, but three weeks later, she still did not have an attorney, according to Lake County Clerk of Court online records. Martin was ordered not to have contact with Jamaria’s next of kin, Althea Chenault, who was at the arraignment with her son, Trane.
Jamaria and her younger sister, Jaliah, lived with Chenault, their maternal grandmother, and their mother, Tadrina Dort while she battled leukemia. Dort beat the leukemia but later died in 2022 from congestive heart failure. The girls continued to live Chenault after their mother’s death and while Sessions was incarcerated on multiple charges, including child neglect. Sessions had little to do with his two daughters prior to his incarceration, and Chenault told Inside Lake she was shocked when he picked the girls up from their Orange County school in October 2023 without her permission. He would not allow her to see her grandchildren and Chenault has questioned why Sessions was allowed to take the girls but has never been given a thorough explanation, she said. “Nana,” as she was known to the girls, immediately began fighting for permanent custody following her daughter’s death and is still fighting for Jaliah, who is currently living with another maternal family member.
Jamaria, left, Althea “Nana” Chenault and Jaliah. Photo courtesy of Althea Chenault
TAVARES, Fla.—The father of 9-year-old Jamaria Sessions, and his girlfriend, have been indicted for Jamaria’s brutal murder.
Lojuan Sessions, 26, and Tyshael Martin, 34, are both being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond, accused of ongoing abuse that led to the death of Jamaria, who would have been in fourth grade this school year.
Martin pleaded not guilty to her crimes Monday morning and was ordered not to have contact with Jamaria’s next of kin, Althea Chenault. Chenault, known as, “Nana” to Jamaria, is Jamaria’s maternal grandmother. Chenault had custody of Jamaria and her little sister Jaliah, following the death of their mother, Tadrina Dort. Inside Lake named Jaliah in this story at the request of Chenault because the sisters were so close. Dort died in September 2022 from congestive heart failure after beating leukemia; she was only 24 years old. Sessions was serving a prison sentence when Dort died and he picked the girls up from school without Chenault’s permission in October 2023, after his release. A probable cause affidavit, written by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office detective who investigated Jamaria’s case, states the detective uncovered evidence that the abuse started the day the girls were picked up from school by their father.
Tyshael Martin was arraigned Monday. VIDEO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake
Chenault was in attendance for Martin’s arraignment, along with her son, Trane Chenault. They also attended Martin’s first appearance right after she was arrested, and they plan on attending Sessions’ arraignment for aggravated manslaughter of a child, scheduled for Monday.
“We’re going to be there for everything,” Althea Chenault told Inside Lake.
Chenault is also fighting to get Jaliah back into her care, her next court date is the custody case is scheduled for November. Jaliah is currently in the care of another maternal family member.
Jamaria, left, Althea “Nana” Chenault and Jaliah. Photo courtesy of Althea Chenault
Martin is charged with first degree murder, aggravated child abuse and child neglect. During her arraignment, Circuit Judge James Baxley stated Martin was charged with second degree murder and documentation in the case also stated second degree murder. Inside Lake reached out to Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson’s office for an explanation.
“The document… was supposed to be utilized as a placeholder for information until we formerly indicted on the more serious charge (Monday,)” Brittney Carman, Public Information Officer for Gladson’s Office said in an email.
Martin told Baxley she is retaining a private attorney and expected him to speak with her Monday; at press time Wednesday, she still did not have an attorney, according to Lake County Clerk of Court online records.
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.—A father has now been arrested for failing to protect his young daughter from his girlfriend who is accused of murdering her in the Montverde home they all shared.
Lojuan Sessions, 26, was arrested in Orange County Friday on a charge of aggravated manslaughter of a child and a violation of probation and is being held on no bond.
“Lojuan Sessions, by and through both statements and digital forensics of cellular phones collected during this investigation did encourage, suggest, plan, permit and assist Tyshael Martin in the implementation and execution of various ‘disciplinary’ processes to include rigorous physical exercise, extreme physical abuse, and mental abuse of Jamaria Sessions,” a probable cause affidavit states.
Text message conversations between Sessions and Martin included jokes about Jamaria’s abuse and comments about “bootcamp.” Jamaria, 9, who would have started 4th grade this school year, was savagely beaten by Martin and bitten by a 103-pound rottweiler, and some of the abuse was captured on video.
Althea Chenault, Jamaria’s maternal grandmother and one-time guardian, is relieved both Martin and Sessions have been arrested and are in jail.
“He deserves to be there,” Chenault told Inside Lake Friday, “he’s a part of this.”
Details about Jamaria’s abuse were released Thursday following Martin’s arrest, details so horrific, they brought tears to the eyes of seasoned law enforcement officers with no ties to the case.
Jamaria Sessions dreamed of being a veterinarian, Grandma Althea Chenault said. Photo courtesy of Althea Chenault
Jamaria was found deceased June 17 after a 911 caller reported she was unresponsive and cold to the touch. The caller was not identified by name, but the phone number is associated with Martin, according to the affidavit. Lake EMS responded to the scene, pronounced her deceased and requested the Lake County Sheriff’s Office respond to the scene due to the significant number of injuries Jamaria’s tiny body had.
LCSO worked on the case for more than two months and on Tuesday received a 26-page autopsy report detailing Jamaria’s injuries that caused her death, including complications of multiple blunt injuries of the head, torso and extremities and thermal injury of the right foot.” In addition to the dog attacks, and severe beatings, Jamaria was burned by boiling water in the hours before her death.
While Martin appears to be Jamaria’s main abuser, her father was “complicit and failed to take any reasonable action to protect his child from harm” the LCSO detective stated in the affidavit.
This is not the first time Sessions has been arrested for crimes involving children. In January 2019, Sessions was accused of fleeing from a Haines City Police Department officer after the officer found a bag of drugs, later determined to be amphetamine, in plain view in the vehicle Sessions was driving during a traffic stop, according to an arrest affidavit.
The officer put the bag of suspected drugs on the roof of Sessions’ vehicle, and asked Sessions to step out. Sessions put the vehicle in drive, took off, struck a vehicle being driven by an undercover Polk County deputy and then crashed into a palm tree. Martin was in the passenger seat with a small unrestrained child in her lap, and three young girls were in the back seat—not wearing seatbelts. Jamaria was not one of those children, according to Chenault.
Sessions was arrested for four counts of child neglect, possession of amphetamine with intent to sell, trafficking in amphetamine, possession of a vehicle while trafficking drugs, possession of marijuana, fleeing a law enforcement officer at a high speed, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a suspended license.
He later pleaded guilty, according to Polk County Clerk of Court records, and was sentenced to five years in prison followed by five years of probation. Last month he was arrested at his job in Eustis for violating two conditions of probation, including failing to pay his monthly $30 cost of supervision fee and violating his curfew. According to a warrant in that case, Sessions was required to be at his residence between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and on June 7 he did not comply with that condition.
Jamaria and her mother, Tadrina Dort. Dort passed away from a medical condition in 2022. Photo courtesy of Althea Chenault
Following his release from prison, Sessions went to a school in Orange County and picked Jamaria and her little sister, now 6, up without permission in October 2023. The girls had been living with Chenault following the death of their mother Tadrina Dort in 2022. In December 2023, Jamaria’s sister went to live with Lojuan Sessions’ mother because she was “causing strain” in the relationship between Sessions and Martin. According to the affidavits in this case, LCSO believes Jamaria’s abuse started as soon as she began living with the couple.
Both Sessions and Martin are being held on no bond.
MONTVERDE, Fla.—Horrifying details have been released in the murder 9-year-old Jamaria Sessions.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Tyshael Martin, the girlfriend of Jamaria’s father Lojuan Sessions, ordered a 103-pound rottweiler to attack the girl, and savagely dragged and kicked her-and it was all caught on video.
Shortly before 5 a.m. June 17, Lake EMS responded to 16017 Harbar Oaks Drive, Montverde on a report of an unresponsive child. She was pronounced deceased by Lake EMS.
Martin told EMS she woke up that morning to catch a flight to California with Jamaria and several other children to meet up with Jamaria’s father, Lojuan, who had already left for California a few days earlier—a statement that was later determined to be a lie, when Lojuan Sessions arrived on the scene a short time later, according to the affidavit.
After waking up, Martin said she attempted to wake Jamaria up and she found her unresponsive and cold to the touch. Lake EMS observed multiple injuries to Jamaria including a “significant” number of abrasions, small punctures, burns, possible bite marks and bruising covering her body, all in various stages of healing. Lake EMS requested the Lake County Sheriff’s Office respond after noting rigor mortis in Jamaria’s jaw. According to Florida State University, if a body feels cold and stiff, death likely occurred between 8 and 36 hours prior.
A Facebook post shared by Tyshael Martin the day before Jamaria Sessions was found deceased.
After arriving on scene, Lojuan Sessions “appeared to be in disbelief” that his daughter had been at the residence since June 9 because he believed she was in California.
He told detectives he and Martin had been arguing lately, leading to the demise of their relationship and he moved in with his mother in Ocoee. On May 31, Martin, along with Jamaria, her daughters, and her mother, Torcha Martin left for Miami to stay there until June 2 when they were scheduled to leave for a cruise that would return on June 9. Lojuan Sessions did not go on the cruise because he was on felony probation.
Jamaria Sessions. Photo courtesy of Joseph Robinson and Althea Chenault
On June 10, Martin texted Lojuan Sessions and told him Torcha Martin had taken Jamaria back to California with her. This was also determined to be a lie. Lojuan Sessions went to the home in Montverde that evening and throughout the next few days he never saw his daughter at the home or heard her and he believed she was in California with Torcha Martin. On June 12, Lojuan and Tyshael Martin were arguing and Tyshael Martin sprayed him with bug spray while he was sleeping. He moved out of the home the following day, he told detectives.
Detectives later found out Lojuan was having an affair with another woman while Tyshael Martin was on the cruise with his daughter. The woman subsequently became pregnant with Lojuan Sessions’ child, but it is unknown if Tyshael Martin knew about the affair, according to the affidavit.
A post from Tyshael Martin’s Facebook page
After interviewing Tyshael Martin’s daughters, detectives learned after returning from the cruise, that on June 16, Tyshael Martin drove Jamaria to the airport, along with others whose names are redacted, to catch a flight to California. They stopped at a store on the drive and Tyshael gave Jamaria a Gatorade and a banana because she was not feeling well. Jamaria vomited after eating the banana and when they arrived at the airport, Jamaria “expressed discomfort” while walking through the parking lot. Tyshael Martin attempted to locate a wheelchair, and it caused them to miss the flight. The flight was rescheduled for June 25, and they returned home to Montverde. A person whose name is redacted from the affidavit, was “doing” Jamaria’s hair, using boiling water from a pink electric kettle. That person saturated Jamaria’s hair with boiling water in an effort to straighten it and boiling water landed on Jamaria’s right foot. That person told detectives Jamaria did not complain of pain and was wearing a compression sock due to a prior ankle injury she allegedly suffered from tripping over a bag of dog food. No one took Jamaria for medical treatment for the burn or the ankle injury. On June 16, the sock was taken off Jamaria’s foot and it removed the skin from the top of her foot where the boiling water landed.
Video from June 15 later showed Tyshael Martin kicking Jamaria in the hip/lower back area, causing her to fall over a bag of dog food and detectives believe this is how Jamaria truly injured her ankle.
Dashara King, 17 years old at the time of the murder, and the biological daughter of Tyshael Martin, told detectives she, her mother and Lojuan Sessions often physically punished Jamaria, but two other people whose names are redacted also had permission to punish Jamaria. During interviews with the Department of Children and Families (DCF,) it was revealed that physical punishment consisted of “wall-sits,” running in place, running on the treadmill, being struck with an object both above and below the waist and depriving Jamaria of toys and electronics. Every child in the home had their own room with furniture and a bed, but Jamaria was made to sleep on the couch or on a crib mattress in another child’s room, according to the affidavit.
Detectives also learned Tyshael Martin was alone in a room with Jamaria throughout the night of June 16, until she was discovered deceased. Tyshael Martin claimed she was asleep from 6 p.m. June 16 until 4 a.m. June 17, with the exception of a brief midnight phone call from her mother, Torcha Martin. Evidence later showed that was another lie.
During an on-scene preliminary exam of Jamaria by the medical examiner, injuries were noted all over her small body, consistent with abuse. These injuries included superficial lacerations consistent with being pinched with significant force, her face was swollen, she had broken teeth, blood in her left ear, along with a penetration wound behind her ear, in addition to contusions all over her body.
In an interview about Jamaria’s injuries, Tyshael Martin said Jamaria suffered the injuries while falling off of a treadmill and falling downstairs and her lacerations were blamed on “having a reaction to something,” the affidavit states.
“Bluestar Forensic” a blood developer that allows the detection of blood traces invisible to the naked eye, was used on the treadmill and surrounding areas and showed no traces of blood. However, blood was detected on the stairs, master bathtub, a downstairs hallway leading to a closet and within that closet.
On June 17, Tyshael Martin consented to a search of her cell phone and images were extracted showing possible abuse of Jamaria, in addition to screenshots between “BD” and Tyshael, where “BD” accuses Tyshael Martin of abuse. “BD” is believed to be an acronym for “Baby Daddy” and is believed to be Lojuan Sessions. Other cell phone extractions showed Tyshael Martin often bragged about the “creative ways” she disciplined Jamaria.
On June 18, during Jamaria’s autopsy, the medial examiner noted the number of superficial injuries covering the majority of her body, advised it appeared to be torture inflicted by fingernails and injuries consistent with being struck by something, possibly wire.
On June 20, DCF filed a Dependency Shelter Hearing and on June 25, Lake Circuit Judge Jason Nimeth ruled Tyshael Martin was to have “no contact” with the children. The following day, the caretaker reported Tyshael Martin was contacting the children via cellphones and other electronic devices. The devices were seized, and a search warrant was executed on the children’s devices.
Vivint home security provided detectives with 2,828 videos from both the interior and exterior of the home in Montverde. Six video files dated June 15 between 11:50 p.m. and 11:57 p.m. showed this information, taken directly from the affidavit.
(Videos show) “Jamaira Sessions being viciously attacked by the family pet, a 103-pound male rottweiler as Jamaria was just out of frame, however, Tyshael Martin could be seen holding the leash of the dog, and is heard encouraging the dog to bite Jamaria Sessions as Jamaria laid on the floor, ending with Jamaria Sessions attempting to stand up in the doorway coming into frame. The next clips show Jamaria Sessions staggering, nude and disheveled. Jamaria’s hair, previously in a partial bun, was now messy, and her extensions were falling out of her hair. It appeared that the dog had bitten the child’s head, pulling at her hair, at the command of Tyshael Martin. Following this clip, Jamaria Sessions is commanded to stand in the room with her arms up by Tyshael Martin. Jamaria Sessions exhibited an orbital sway, appearing to be disorientated, similar to being intoxicated, and leaned forward to pick up a blanket to cover herself. This prompted Tyshael Martin to deliver a kick to the rear of the child causing her to collapse to the floor. The child lay motionless, moaning in pain, as Tyshael Martin continued to kick her hip and eventually her stomach area at full force. When the child did not get up, Tyshael Martin then grabbed the child by her hair, pulling her across the floor, with minimal resistance by Jamaria Sessions, who appeared to be disorientated and motionless. The child was dragged near the stairs, which is where the dog attack occurred, which was just out of frame. Tyshael Martin continued to command the child, Jamaria Sessions, to stand up, and as Jamaria physically could not comply, Jamaria was repeatedly struck and shaken by Tyshael Martin. The next video clip begins with Tyshael Martin stating what sounds like, ‘I’m fixing to kill her.’”
At least one of Tyshael Martin’s daughters apparently witnessed the attack on Jamaria.
On Aug. 27, an LCSO detective received a 26-page autopsy report from the medical examiner’s office. Jamaria’s cause of death was “complications of multiple blunt injuries of the head, torso and extremities and thermal injury of the right foot.” Her manner of death was homicide and the “stated, multiple blunt injuries (abrasions, contusions, and lacerations,) recent and healing, of head, torso and extremities. Probable rhabdomyolysis and partial thickness burns of right foot.”
According to the National Library of Medicine, rhabdomyolysis is a complex medical condition involving the rapid dissolution of damaged or injured skeletal muscle. It can range from an asymptomatic illness to a life-threatening condition.
Medical records obtained by the detective showed Jamaria had not received any medical attention since March 2024 when her father took her to South Lake Hospital for a severe dog bite. Tyshael Martin was arrested Wednesday in Montverde for first degree murder, aggravated child abuse and child neglect. She is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond.
Jamaria and her younger sister, who Inside Lake is not naming, began living with their father in October 2023 after he was released from prison. Jamaria’s sister then went to live with Lojuan Sessions’ mother in December 2023 because she was “causing strain” in the relationship between Lojuan Sessions and Tyshael Martin.
Jamaria Sessions is seen here in a Facebook post from Tyshael Martin the month after Jamaria’s father, Lojuan Sessions, picked her up from school without permission from her maternal grandmother.
Before that, they lived with their maternal grandmother, Althea Chenault, following the death of their mother. Tadrina Dort. Dort died in 2022 from congestive heart failure in 2022, after beating cancer. According to Chenault, Sessions picked the girls up from an Orange County school in October 2023 without permission. Chenault, who does not have an attorney, had been fighting to get the girls back ever since. She had not seen her granddaughters since the day their father picked them up, she told Inside Lake.
Chenault continues to fight for custody of Jamaria’s little sister who is currently living with Dort’s father.
MONTVERDE, Fla.—An arrest has been made in the murder of a 9-year-old Montverde girl, the girl’s family told Inside Lake Thursday morning.
Tyshael Elise Martin, 34, was arrested Wednesday night for the murder of Jamaria Sessions, Martin is the girlfriend of Lojuan Sessions, Jamaria’s father. According to Lake County Jail online booking records, Martin is facing charges of first degree murder, aggravated child abuse and child neglect and is being held on no bond at LCJ.
Jamaria was found dead at a home in Montverde June 17 and detectives have been investigating the case for more than two months.
Althea Chenault, Jamaria’s maternal grandmother, reached out to Inside Lake early Thursday morning and about the arrest.
“I’m just glad justice has been served,” Chenault said, but “It will still be an uphill battle (with court.)”
TAVARES, Fla.—The father of a young girl found dead in Montverde last month was arrested last week on unrelated charges out of Polk County, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office online booking records.
Lojuan Jamario Sessions, 26, father of 9-year-old Jamaria Sessions, was picked up at his job in Eustis Wednesday by Eustis Police Department on two warrants for violating probation, stemming from a 2019 Polk County case.
In January 2019, Sessions was accused of fleeing from a Haines City Police Department officer after the officer found a bag of drugs, later determined to be amphetamine, in plain view in the vehicle Sessions was driving during a traffic stop, according to an arrest affidavit.
The officer put the bag of suspected drugs on the roof of Sessions’ vehicle, and asked Sessions to step out. Sessions put the vehicle in drive, took off, struck a vehicle being driven by an undercover Polk County deputy and then crashed into a palm tree. Sessions’ current girlfriend was in the passenger seat with a small unrestrained child in her lap, and three young girls were in the back seat—not wearing seatbelts.
Sessions was arrested for four counts of child neglect, possession of amphetamine with intent to sell, trafficking in amphetamine, possession of a vehicle while trafficking drugs, possession of marijuana, fleeing a law enforcement officer a at high speed, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a suspended license.
He later pleaded guilty, according to Polk County Clerk of Court records, and was sentenced to five years in prison followed by five years of probation. He is accused of violating his probation, but details of the violations were not available Monday evening.
Sessions was released from prison in August 2023, and according to Jamaria’s uncle, Joseph Robinson, Jamaria and her younger sister, 5, had been living with their father since October 2023. Before that, the sisters were living with their grandmother, Althea Chenault, following the death of their mother, Tadrina Dort. Dort died from congestive heart failure in 2022 after beating leukemia; she was just 24 years old.
Jamaria Sessions. Photo courtesy of Joseph Robinson and Althea Chenault
The girls began living with Sessions after he picked them up from school without Chenault’s knowledge or consent in October 2023 and they lived with him until Jamaria’s death on June 17. Jamaria’s 5-year-old sister, who Inside Lake is not naming, is staying with another family member.
No arrests have been made in Jamaria’s death and LCSO has released few details, only calling her death a “homicide investigation.”
“The death investigation is being treated as a homicide until the results are retrieved from the autopsy by the Medical Examiner’s office,” LCSO Cpl. Chanel Martin told Inside Lake last month. “When the cause and manner are returned explaining the death, a determination will be made on proceeding forward.”
LCSO online records show Sessions was released from the Lake County Jail Monday and Martin told Inside Lake he was turned over to Polk County Sheriff’s Office. At press time, Sessions had not been booked into the Polk County Jail.
MONTVERDE, Fla.—The maternal family of the child found deceased in a Montverde home Monday has publicly identified her and they say the Lake County Sheriff’s Office has told them her death is a homicide investigation.
Only Inside Lake spoke with the uncle and grandmother of Jamaria Sessions, 9, this week. According to Jamaria’s uncle Joseph Robinson, Jamaria and her younger sister, 5, had been living with their father, Lojuan Sessions since October 2023, and Jamaria was found deceased at his home in Montverde. Prior to that, they were living with their grandmother when Sessions picked them up from school without her knowledge or consent. Sessions was released from prison in August 2023 after serving a five-year prison sentence for two counts of child neglect, trafficking in MDMA and fleeing and eluding, stemming from a case in Polk County. According to Florida Department of Correction records, he was simultaneously serving a two-year sentence for an Orange County aggravated assault with a weapon case. He is currently on probation for the Polk County case.
The victims’ names in the Polk County case are redacted, but Robinson told Inside Lake, Sessions saw the girls very little prior to his prison sentence and they were not the children in the vehicle with him when he fled police.
The girls were living with their grandmother, Althea Chenault, following the death of their mother, Tadrina Dort. Dort died from congestive heart failure in 2022 after beating leukemia. She was only 24 years old.
Robinson said Sessions has not let the maternal side of Jamaria’s family see her or her sister since he picked them up from school in 2023. There is an open custody case between Chenault and Sessions, but the documents are not available to the public.
LCSO is investigating the case and has released very little information.
“The death investigation is being treated as a homicide until the results are retrieved from the autopsy by the Medical Examiner’s office,” Cpl. Chanel Martin told Inside Lake Friday. “When the cause and manner are returned explaining the death, a determination will be made on proceeding forward.”
MONTVERDE, Fla.—A 9-year-old child was found deceased by a family member at their home in Montverde Monday and turned over to the Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of death, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The child’s name and gender were not released.
Little information was available Tuesday, but “there is no danger to the public and the investigation is ongoing,” Cpl. Chanel Martin told Inside Lake.
