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ECSO: Murdered 5-Year Old Weighed Just 20 Pounds When Found Dead Inside Trash Bag In Bay
February 11, 2026
A 5-year-old boy found dead in a trash bag in Perdido Bay last Friday was malnourished, dehydrated and weighed just 20 pounds, according to an arrest report.
Jalynda Karie Smith, 36, was arrested hours later and charged with aggravated negligent manslaughter. In a hearing on Tuesday, a judge ordered that she be held without bond.
Smith and the child were reported missing by family members who had not heard from them for several days.
The search took a grim turn on the morning of February 6, when a passerby reported finding a black trash bag along the waterline of Perdido Bay near the 9600 block of Lillian Highway. Investigators who responded to the scene discovered the body of a small boy wrapped in blankets and towels inside the bag.
Evidence of Neglect
An autopsy revealed that while the child was approximately 3 feet, 4 inches tall, he weighed only 20 pounds. Medical examiners noted that the child appeared severely emaciated, malnourished, and dehydrated. A pediatrician who had previously treated the child told investigators that losing one-third of his body weight in less than two months was “incredibly concerning” and suggested either starvation or severe medical neglect.
During a search of Smith’s apartment at the Moorings complex on Old Spanish Trail, investigators found the residence to be clean and well-stocked with food. However, they noted the thermostat was set to a chilly 65 degrees.
The Investigation
Authorities tracked Smith to a shopping center in Gulf Breeze, where surveillance video showed her abandoning her vehicle on February 5, 2026, and leaving the area in a ride-share vehicle.
When investigators finally located Smith, they discovered her cellular phone and iPad had both been factory reset. Forensic analysis later determined the phone had been wiped just two minutes before she was taken into custody.
Records show Smith had a prior history with the Department of Children and Families, including reports in 2022 and 2025 regarding allegations of leaving the child unattended.
Pictured top: Suspect Jalynda Karie Smith appeared in court on Tuesday. Photo courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
16 Responses to “ECSO: Murdered 5-Year Old Weighed Just 20 Pounds When Found Dead Inside Trash Bag In Bay”
The only thing I can say is I hope she is put in jail, and slowly starved so she can get some of her fat off, and know what its like not to have food to eat. She is an evil person, this precious child is with Jesus now, I hope. And enjoying Heavens streets of Gold, and having delicious manna from Heaven.
Perhaps she needs to be put on a diet in prison until she weighs the same.
I’m wondering why didn’t they do a welfare check on him the day before… They said the house was clean and had food, why didn’t they ask to see the baby???
Family and authorities failed this child. Heartbreaking…
The physician that had “previously treated the child” encountered a 5-year-old, two months ago, that weighed ONLY 30 POUNDS?? And reported nothing?! So this child was allowed to leave that pediatrician’s office with this woman, and lost 10 MORE pounds in the next two months leading up to his death? This doctor is culpable as well.
The woman has serious issues with her life. What bothers me is how her family knew there were problems and didn’t risk her being mad at them to save that little boy. Ask anyone for help people. Don’t do something like this.
Why didn’t the family do something? You don’t think they knew what was going on??!! They should be culpable for allowing it to happen without reporting it sooner. They knew that boy was malnourished and being abused!! Why would they be “checking on them” otherwise. The whole clan should be sitting in jail. Do you think for a moment I would allow my daughter or a family member have a visibly malnourished child and I not step in… ya uh huh…
This Momster weighs over 300lbs and she couldn’t take care of that precious child? She should be charged with premeditated murder.
God bless our children.
After a factory reset, is it possible for law enforcement to retrieve any data on the hardware device? Pretty sure any data on the cloud is available to LEO.
She should be starved the same way she did that baby!
A mother doing such a horrific act towards any child let alone her own deserves a one way trip to Holman. A home well stocked with food that evidently by her size was enjoyed by her alone. She had a cell phone and an iPad…living life to the fullest. Disgusting!
Evil never rests. We all know what is deserved for this animal, is not what she’ll get.
Look like she damn sure didn’t miss a meal..
Horrible, Horrible, Horrible if this woman is found Guilty she needs decades in prison and a starvation menu.
How can she be so grossly obese yet allow her baby to starve to death?
God Bless the child’s spirit and soul.
Well It’s no wonder he only weighed 20 pounds, look at her she ate it all, it looks like she ate everything in sight… j/s…. But on another note it is despicable that a mother could do that to her own child. By the looks of her pics it does not seem like she has any remorse at all. Lock her up and throw away the key, but the way are system works they will probably just let her back out on the streets with a slap on the wrists. But let a cop see you jay walking…. oh my god throw em under the jail and forget about em…
First of all, 2 reports on her from child services? The second time should have been a red flag for them. Maybe a deeper investigation would have revealed the child being abused and neglected. It may have saved his life. Second, she has not skipped a meal apparently so why was the poor baby malnourished? Medical issues maybe? Maybe he needed medication she could not afford? Who knows. All of this is irrelevant because now that baby is gone. This is such a sad case and I pray for the family of this child and hope they can get answers and find peace. He is safe now.