Michigan Mother Sentenced to 15 Years for Attempted Drowning of Toddler in Florida

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – Shamika Mitchell, a 38-year-old mother from Michigan, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after leaving her 1-year-old son to drown in the surf in Daytona Beach last November. The horrifying incident occurred while Mitchell was visiting Florida from Detroit with her children.

Surveillance footage captured Mitchell walking along the beach with her toddler shortly before midnight. Just minutes later, she was seen leaving the beach alone. The child was later discovered by a woman “on his hands and knees, hands buried in the sand up to his wrists and waves were crashing over his head,” according to reports.

Responding officers found the toddler unresponsive and immediately transported him to Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital. Miraculously, the child recovered.

Mitchell initially lied to police, claiming she had left her son with his father. However, it was confirmed that the father was in Michigan at the time. The child’s teenage sibling also made a 911 call, informing authorities that Mitchell had been experiencing psychotic episodes leading up to the incident.

At her sentencing, Mitchell received credit for 449 days already served. Following her prison term, she will also serve 15 years on probation. While she faced a potential sentence of 35 years, her public defender argued for leniency, citing her lack of prior criminal record and documented mental health issues.