DeLand, FL - Investigators announce that a North Carolina woman has been arrested in the 2018 death of her 7-year-old daughter in DeLand.
The Volusia Sheriff's Office confirms that 26-year-old Janee Dickson was arrested in Charlotte, North Carolina, charged in connection to 7-year-old Kamia Jean-Baptiste's death back in March of 2018. She's now in custody in Mecklenburg County pending extradition to Volusia.
The investigation began back on March 6th, 2018, after Kamia was airlifted from Florida Hospital in DeLand to Florida Hospital South in Orlando (Both are now AdventHealth facilities). Investigators say that Kamia had injuries and visible trauma indicating she had been physically abused.
Kamia passed away the following day. Her autopsy showed hemorrhaging in her legs, back and backside, which were likely a result of physical abuse. The cause of death was ruled as blunt force trauma and the manner of death was ruled homicide.
According to VSO investigators, Dickson claimed that Kamia was injured while playing on the slide at a playground. But, during the investigation, Dickson’s boyfriend – who VSO identified as Brandon Williams – told detectives that Dickson struck Kamia on multiple occasions to an extent that "exceeded parental discipline."
Detectives further reported that Dickson changed her story and said that Kamia was disciplined. But, it wasn't her who disciplined Kamia, it was Williams.
Dickson claimed that while in a vehicle on March 5th, Kamia kept asking them to stop so she can use the bathroom. Dickson claims that Williams drove to a side-street in DeLand, pulled Kamia out of the car and beat her for 15 to 20 minutes with a blunt object. Then, after beating her, Dickson claims that Williams drove to the Beresford Cemetery and beat her again for 30 minutes with the same object, along with another object.
Investigators used GPS data from their phones and confirmed their travel around DeLand on March 5th, and their eventual arrival at the hospital the next day.
VSO says that by her own account, Dickson never called 911 or sought help during or after the beatings, even though she noticed that Kamia had trouble breathing all night.
She said Kamia was constantly thirsty and couldn’t sleep. Dickson said in the morning, she noticed that Kamia’s body had gone limp, she was cold to the touch, her head tilted, and her eyes were open but glossed over and unresponsive. That's when she decided to bring Kamia to the hospital.
When asked if she thought Kamia had died before she took her to the hospital, Dickson reportedly replied, “Basically, yeah.”
Dickson also claims that on March 7th, Williams got rid of the items used in the beating as well as Kamia’s clothes and personal items. Williams denied all of Dickson’s allegations and maintained that he never struck Kamia in any way.
The investigation is still active and ongoing. VSO says that additional charges are possible.
Dickson’s charge of aggravated manslaughter is based on evidence that she contributed to Kamia’s death by neglecting to provide any care to her despite either observing or causing her injuries.
