Florida mom charged after 5-year-old son’s body is found in trash bag by highway

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (TCN) -- A woman is in custody in connection with the death of her 5-year-old son, whose body was found in a trash bag in the water along a highway. 

WEAR reports Jalynda Smith, 36, was arrested Feb. 6 and charged with aggravated negligent manslaughter. She appeared in court on Feb. 10 and is being held without bond.

According to an arrest report obtained by the outlet, a woman reported to the authorities that Smith and her son, Jakaiden Smith, were missing on Feb. 5 and she had not heard from them since Feb. 1. 

The next day, Smith’s sister got a text from an unknown number that said to check her email. An email, reportedly from Smith, read, “1st please don’t tell ma u heard from me and please don’t tell the police I’ll tell you everything but please download the app Telegram I need to make sure everything is secure and u cant find me,” WEAR reports. 

Her sister downloaded the app and began talking to Smith, who reportedly told her she was scared and to call the police and let them know she was no longer missing, according to WEAR. When her sister asked about Jakaiden Smith, Smith reportedly said she came into the house and found he was not breathing. Smith’s sister then went to her apartment and found it empty. A neighbor told her she had not seem Smith in several days. Smith’s sister then contacted law enforcement.

According to Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons, “We got a call from the sister that she didn't have a good feeling about the safety of the 5-year-old,” WEAR reports. “And unfortunately, it spiraled from there.”

Later that morning, police received a report of the body of a child in a trash bag in the water along the highway. When deputies removed the body from the bag, they noted he was wrapped in towels and only wearing a diaper, according to WEAR. An autopsy was performed and the identity of the child was confirmed. It was also determined that the child was malnourished and dehydrated at the time of his death. He weighed 20 pounds. 

A search warrant was obtained for Smith’s apartment, and they found it to be stocked with sufficient food. After putting out a BOLO for Smith, officers located her on the afternoon of Feb. 6.

She allegedly refused to speak to investigators after her arrest, WEAR reports. Officers spoke to others who served as Jakaiden Smith’s caregivers when Smith was unable to care for him. His father was reportedly not involved.

WEAR reports Jakaiden Smith had autism, was nonverbal, and had been diagnosed with failure to thrive. At his last medical appointment on Dec. 15, 2025, he was recorded as being 30 pounds and 3 feet 4 inches tall. Doctors told investigators that losing a third of his weight in a month would “either be associated with starvation, or a severe medical condition that should have necessitated emergent treatment.”

According to court records obtained by WALA, Smith was charged with child neglect in 2022 after leaving her then-18-month-old son alone for approximately two hours. The apartment’s maintenance staff reportedly found the child alone in the home, in a soiled diaper, while Smith had gone to the store. The charge was reportedly dropped after Smith took a court-recommended parenting class.

According to WEAR, another reported was filed against Smith in 2025; she would reportedly leave Jakaiden Smith alone when she drove for a rideshare company. The report was closed when it was found that Smith was reportedly meeting Jakaiden’s needs and that he was safe. 

Simmons said there were other children in Smith’s home, as well as other caretakers.

WEAR reports that Smith is due back in court March 6 for her arraignment.

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