News Summary
Raymona Ford, 24, has been indicted on multiple charges, including first-degree felony murder, following the drowning death of her 2-year-old son, O’Rhyan. After finding the child unresponsive in a bathtub, evidence revealed discrepancies in Ford’s account of the incident. The prosecution claims she abused and neglected her son, leading to his tragic death. This case sheds light on ongoing concerns regarding child safety in the Tallahassee area, where multiple child homicide cases have surfaced recently.
Tallahassee – Raymona Ford, a 24-year-old woman, has been indicted by a grand jury on charges of first-degree felony murder, aggravated child abuse, and aggravated manslaughter of a child following the drowning death of her 2-year-old son. The indictment was issued on Tuesday, and Ford is set to appear in court on Wednesday.
The Tallahassee Police Department discovered Ford’s son, O’Rhyan, unresponsive in a bathtub back in May. Emergency medical services soon transported him to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, where it was confirmed that he had no brain function. Four days later, he was taken off life support after displaying seizure-like behavior before the drowning incident.
Initially, Ford reported that she had left O’Rhyan unattended in the bathtub for only a few minutes while she checked on the stove and her other young child. However, police investigators found discrepancies in her account, particularly regarding the duration of time her son was left alone. Detectives further indicated that Ford may have taken steps to obscure her role in the abuse of her child.
In a turn during the investigation, Ford revealed that she had struck O’Rhyan several times in the head prior to the incident, acknowledging that her son had experienced seizures before drowning. The grand jury’s indictment outlines that Ford allegedly knowingly abused and neglected her child, which led to his tragic death.
Ford’s legal troubles are compounded by a previous drowning incident involving another child. Earlier in 2023, Ford was implicated in an earlier incident involving an 11-month-old child, which was not reported as suspicious at that time.
In August, Ford faced initial charges of homicide and child cruelty and made her first court appearance, where she was denied bond. Following the death of her son, she set up a GoFundMe page to solicit contributions for his funeral expenses, which received $100 from an anonymous donor. In the campaign, Ford characterized O’Rhyan as a “very affectionate baby” who enjoyed cuddling and watching cartoons, mentioning that he had suffered “profound brain damage” as per doctors’ assessments, which were deemed irreversible.
This case has drawn significant attention and concern within the Tallahassee community, which has experienced multiple child homicide cases in recent months. Including O’Rhyan’s case, it is the third recorded child homicide in the area recently. Other cases include the death of 5-year-old Melissa “Missy” Mogle, who died as a result of severe abuse, and 1-year-old Ky’meria Key’moni German, who died from injuries inflicted during a beating.
Investigative reports show that inconsistencies persisted in Ford’s narrative, even during a police reconstruction of the incident using a doll to depict her actions, contradicting her initial statements about the circumstances that led to O’Rhyan’s drowning. The unfolding of this tragic situation has once again raised alarms about child safety in the region.
This indictment of Raymona Ford highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement and community members in addressing child abuse. As the case moves forward, it remains crucial for the legal process to ensure justice for O’Rhyan and to foster a safer environment for children in Tallahassee.
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Additional Resources
- WTXL: Grand Jury Indicts Tallahassee Woman
- Wikipedia: Child Abuse
- Tallahassee.com: Beating and Neglect in Toddler’s Drowning
- Google Search: Child Homicide Tallahassee
- WTXL: TPD Suspect Arrested After Child Drowns
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Child Abuse
- Tallahassee.com: Leon County Teen Faces Charges
- Google News: Raymona Ford
Author: STAFF HERE TALLAHASSEE WRITER
The TALLAHASSEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERETallahassee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Tallahassee, Leon County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Springtime Tallahassee, Tallahassee Jazz & Blues Festival, and LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Big Bend, plus leading businesses in education, healthcare, and insurance that power the local economy such as Florida State University, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, and Capital Health Plan. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
