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Lakeland Mother Charged After Medical Examiner Rules 6‑Month‑Old’s Death a Homicide

The medical examiner's homicide finding has prompted a prosecutorial review that could raise charges against the child's mother.

Overview

  • Police say officers responded to a Chestnut Woods Drive home late on June 29 and the 6‑month‑old was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead shortly after midnight.
  • Investigators say 23‑year‑old Tatiana Norman gave inconsistent accounts before admitting in a later interview that the infant was dropped, a bassinet tipped, and that she threw the baby into a playpen.
  • Phone records reviewed by police show Norman searched symptoms such as concussions, watched TikTok videos for an hour, viewed multiple pornographic sites, and did not call 911 until about 11:30 p.m.
  • The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide and officials told reporters the child might have survived with earlier medical care, a finding that is shaping the criminal case.
  • Norman has been charged with aggravated child abuse, a crime that carries up to 30 years in prison, and the state attorney is reviewing evidence that could lead to upgraded charges as the investigation continues.