Florida Mother Fatally Stabs 3-Year-Old Daughter After Trying To Strangle Her

A 3-year-old girl was found stabbed to death in a Florida apartment, and the mother, who called the police, was arrested at the scene of the crime.

Jellisa A. Baxter, 24, was arrested Tuesday after she confessed to murdering her toddler in their North Miami Beach residence.

Baxter called 911 herself at around 2 a.m. Tuesday and said she had stabbed her daughter in their third-floor apartment 10 Tampa Bay WTSP reported. First responders arrived at the scene and saw the mother in a white robe next to the child's body in the living room.

The responding crew found the toddler with multiple stab wounds and provided medical assistance. However, they were unable to save the child and pronounced her dead at the scene.

" ... The child (3-year-old female victim) was stabbed by the mother. 911 call came in via a female alleging to be the mother. The mother is in police custody. Nothing further at this time," the police department said in an update.

Baxter first tried to strangle her daughter to death but when that did not work, she used a knife and stabbed the child multiple times, officials noted in the arrest affidavit.

The paramedics said the toddler had "deep stab wounds" to her chest, neck and face, according to CBS News.

Court documents said a knife was found next to the child victim's body and was taken as evidence. Police believe it was the same knife used by Baxter, as per court documents.

The mother was arrested and taken into custody after she confessed to murdering her daughter. However, Baxter did not give any more details about what led to the stabbing.

She was charged with murder in the first degree and aggravated child abuse, police said.

Police also noted that Baxter had no relatives living in the area, adding that her father is a New York resident.

The accused mother did not have any criminal record before the stabbing incident.

Julia Gutierrez, who has been living in the area for two years and runs a business in the area, said this was the first time she heard of an incident like this occurring in their neighborhood.

"I have four kids with me so I'm so really scared," Gutierrez told the outlet. "We have a saying, you need to look for help, don't do that to kids."