though >> on the 15th when you kicked her down, punched her or kicked her in the gut, kicked her in the back, stomped her head, grabbed her by her hair, dragged her across the floor, had the dog like he's gnawing on her face, right? And you're she's at the bottom of the stairs and she's lifeless and helpless and limp and you're yelling her to get the [ __ ] up. Go upstairs. Get the [ __ ] up. This [ __ ] wants me to kill her. >> Yeah, I lose. >> Okay, so question for you. Does that look good or does that look bad? >> No, it looks bad. >> Okay. Is that abuse? >> Just words. >> No, it wasn't just words. >> Mont Verde, Florida in Lake County, west of Orlando. Shortly before 5 in the morning on Monday, June 17th, 2024, paramedics and deputies were called to a home on Harbor Oak Drive for a child who was not responding. 9-year-old Jamaria Sessions was already dead. The medical examiner would rule her death a homicide caused by multiple blunt force injuries along with a burn to her right foot. Jamaria lived in that house with her father, Luan Sessions, his girlfriend Tyel Martin, and Martin's children. Days before Jamaria died, her father had moved out and Jamaria had stayed behind. For more than two months, detectives worked through the home security cameras. Then on the evening of Wednesday, August 28th, shortly before 6:30, Taiishelle Martin sat down with Lake County detectives. She had just been placed under arrest. The detectives already knew what the cameras had recorded inside that house. What they wanted to know was whether she would tell them the truth and who else was responsible for what happened to Jearia. >> You and I have never met. My name is Tammy D. I'm a lieutenant actually with the sheriff's office. um internal investigations, which is where Detective Mercer also works. And I know this is an uncomfortable way to update you on this case, but as long as you want to and you're willing to talk to us, we'll we'll give you a a [snorts] case update. Um and then talk to you if you're willing to talk to us. I wanted to meet you. Um I've never met you, of course, you know that. and kind of talk to you woman to woman also because I think you only talk to the dudes. And I think this case is a little more complicated than some people are giving it credit for. You're looking at it in a black and white medical sense. And I see a little bit more to it than that. Maybe not, but get your take on that if you're willing. I don't know. I see a young lady who's watching five kids, sometimes six kids on her own with [snorts] no help from Milan, it looks like. I mean, he's working. He's going to school. I get that. So, um I know one of your children is autistic, right? Too. And everyone that I've I haven't talked to, but I've seen the interviews say that Jamari ever was, God rest her soul, quite a handful. should steal things and lie about things and lie about stealing things. And so anyway, I wonder if there's more to the story than just a black and white, you know, I mean, you can tell us if that's if that's the case. If you wanted to, you can wait on Mercer. So I don't have to just hate anything that you say to us. Okay. >> Yeah. I'm sorry though that you and your family are going through this no matter what. No matter what happens. So I'm sure it's difficult one way or the other. I can't imagine lot of kids myself and obviously you have several kids. I I didn't operate for I did have I'll scoot over so you don't have to play tennis ball to to [laughter] get both of us. We were chatting, but we didn't really >> Okay. >> Get into anything. >> All right. So, you remember me, right? >> Okay. I was out there that day. As you know, you're under arrest. Did they tell you what you're charging for? >> Yep. I think that uh there's more people involved in this. Um that should be sitting in the chair you're sitting with, too. So, I want to hear from you. What happened? Honestly, I can't say how she passed away. She was when I found her, she was sleeping. Um, all I can say is, you know, she did receive whoopins. I don't know how she passed. I don't know how she passed away. I honestly don't. >> Okay. How did she get the the pinch marks all over her body? I have pinched her before, but the from what I saw, I didn't pinch. I didn't do all of that. >> Did anybody else pinch her? >> Yeah. >> Who? >> Dad. >> Dad. When did dad leave the house? >> Um, I want to say th I [snorts] believe it was Thursday. Um, I don't know which day it was he came back because that was unannounced. Um, like anytime I would put him out, it was just like sneak back into the house. So, I don't remember exactly which day that was. Um, but the day that I asked him to leave, I believe was Thursday. >> Okay. And he moved his stuff out. Where was Jamari at during that time when he moved out? Um, I believe he left. The last that I knew he was talking to her downstairs. >> Okay. How do you know you're talking to her? >> Because I heard say, "I'll be back to get you." I know he wasn't going to say that to my none of my kids. >> Is there any reason why he would think that Jamario was in California? >> Because you all of them were supposed to leave, [clears throat] >> right? When was he told that though? >> He knew about it the same day we Oh, well, prior to us coming back. >> Back. >> He knew that they were from the cruise. Okay. >> He knew that they were supposed to leave. Um, so the next day when my mom left, I told him that they left because I was in the bed and I didn't know [clears throat] that they weren't going because the last I knew about my mom was booking their tickets. Um, and then we found out that Jamaria was still in the house and my mom never took her. So, we both found that out at the same time. Um, and then I So, as we were talking and my mom was like letting me know how Jamaria was scared to be around him, she my mom told me that she wanted to have a conversation with him and Jamaria before I left. I mean before they Jamaria came went to California. And so that's how I end up [clears throat] telling him a couple days later. I was like um they you know my mom is sick and you know Mari's still sick. That's why they haven't called you yet. That's why they you haven't heard from them because they were supposed to call him and have a conversation. My mom wanted to let him know how she felt about Jamaria being in fear of him. Was your mom and Jamari or sorry, was your mom and Lan in the house at the same time after the cruise? Why didn't she talk about it then? >> Because we had just got back from the cruise and we were settling in and she was trying to book flights before it was too late cuz the prices go up, stuff like that. So, what kind of abuse would uh or what kind of discipline would would Lan use on Jamaria? >> What you mean like using >> like whoopins? Would she timeouts? What kind >> she got in trouble for? >> Like if she got in trouble for something, what would be the recourse that Milan would do? >> Um, I mean, initially it'll start out with maybe having to run in place. Um that's a lot of things that he would tell her to do or um um um they they would have to stand on the wall sometimes um and then it eventually resulted into to a whooping. They just wouldn't listen. Like you tell them to run in place and they would do it for a minute or two and then that would turn into a weapon or what do you mean? >> Um if they said that they didn't want like told him that they didn't want to do it anymore or whatever like that. Yeah. Then he would it would turn into a woman. >> Okay. And when you said that you disciplined her, how was your discipline? Initially, I would just contact him a lot of the times and ask him what do he prefer her do. Um, I would honestly let him talk to her on the phone or, you know, he would, you know, talk to her on the camera. A lot of times he would just beep in and talk to her over the camera. Um, and she would listen to him through there. And, um, I've whooped her before. Um, honestly, I yell a lot. >> I yell a lot to try to scare them to get my point across. >> Well, you're essentially a single mom. I mean, he's gone work or school all day long or playing with >> that just started. Like that that just started. Like I was honestly trying to do those things to get him away from me >> cuz I didn't >> get him help get him a job, put him in school like I did. I paid for all of that, did all of that. Um, I just figured if he didn't have if [clears throat] he didn't have anything going on, he wouldn't leave the relationship. >> Yeah. >> And it was just too overwhelming for me because like my kids didn't have before they came. We never experienced a lifestyle like that. >> So to to be clear, you thought Jamaria left with your mom? >> Yeah. that evening which was the night. >> Yeah. >> Did she have a plane ticket at that time? >> That's what my [clears throat] mom was working on before I went to sleep. So that's why I thought that was my assumption. That No, that was my assumption because I knew before I went to sleep that's what she was doing. >> Mhm. On the on the 9th before you went to sleep on the 9th. She was buying her a ticket. >> So you're saying she did? >> And I told and I said that Yeah. I let him know they left. But that same night, we both found out that she didn't. >> How did you find out? >> Because she was downstairs. >> Why didn't she leave with her? >> My mom said she wasn't able to find a ticket. >> She didn't tell you. >> My mom? >> Yeah, she didn't tell you. >> Mm- I was sleep. She woke me up to let me know she was leaving. So, um I went out there for a few seconds. um came back in and got back got back into bed. Um No. >> Okay. So, so you found out that night the night at some point when when you saw Jamaria? >> Yeah. >> And then you knew she didn't leave. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Um and then my you know my mom explained to me what happened. So >> when did Lan find out that she didn't move? >> The same time. >> Oh. Was he there? >> Yeah. The next question is, so how would that day go? Did did Lan go to school that day? Did he go to work that day on the 11th, the day after your mom left? >> Um, I believe he only went to work that day. >> So he comes home, whatever that night, anything happened that night. Did he yell at Jamaria? Did he see Jamaria? Was he with Jamaria? Or did he just go right to bed? >> Um, I don't know where they went. I don't know where he like because of the type of relationship we had, he would always take her and walk off like or if I knew he was going to whoop her or whatever, I would walk off or something like that. So, I don't I don't know what they were doing downstairs, but um I because I was already trying to leave out of the relationship, I went and slept in [clears throat] the other room and I didn't um I wasn't around him any longer. >> And then, so now we're on to the 12th of June and something happens. There's a fight between you and him. He says you sprayed him with bug spray, whatever. What happened that night? What what caused that fight? It's the day before he goes out. So, you and him both agree he needs to leave. So, what happened that night? >> Um it was something minor. He thought it was I had sprayed um the bug spray. Um cuz it it was behind the bed frame [clears throat] and I guess a little spray got a little of the frizz probably fell on him or something. He thought that I don't know. I sprayed it over his head or something. I don't know. It was something very minor. I don't know. It was not that it it it didn't cause like an argument or nothing. He said something about it and I replied saying that wasn't the case and that was that. Okay. >> The argument was because I wouldn't let him hold the car. >> Oh, you wanted you to keep using the car. >> Okay. Nothing about infidelity. He wasn't accusing you of being unfaithful. You weren't accusing him of being unfaithful. >> Yeah, he probably he always accused me. So, >> okay. Was that part of the fight? I mean, was that >> I mean, it's mainly because I was asking telling him that I didn't want to be with him no more. >> Okay. >> Like, he was telling me like only way I can leave the relationship is death. Um, and stuff like that. But then he started telling Jamario that he was going to kill her and that um you know she kept doing stuff. But like that's why I say like I I'm really confused because he was like um he's going to whoop her and [clears throat] and he don't care. He was I'm going to beat your ass and I don't care how many bruises I leave on you because you got all summer long to heal and stuff like that. So that's why I'm like that's why I really haven't jumped to conclusions with stuff because I didn't know how she passed away. But yeah, it it was a lot of this stuff is because I was leaving him and I was letting him know ahead of time that I was leaving. Like I was I stopped having sex with him. I stopped everything and that bothered him. >> Yeah. You told me on the scene that day that you guys got into a fight because you wouldn't have sex with him anymore. Is that is that what is that part of the issue? main it's like mainly the whole thing because you know I stopped having sex with him to leave the relationship and all that turned into a lot. >> All right. So he leaves on the 13th in the morning, catches an Uber, goes lives with his mom, whatever. You said he came back. When did he come back? Do you know? >> I don't know if that was a Friday. The Friday night, I believe. >> What time do you know him roughly? >> It was like around 9ish, maybe. >> Then he showed up at 9:00. >> It was Yeah. >> And what happened then? You heard him say something to Jamaria, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. And that was what? >> I'll be back to get you. And then someone had sent me a text um of him reaching out to someone on her mom's side of the family to get her Sunday or whatever. [clears throat] That's why I was like when he was telling someone that he didn't know she was there. I was like that's a lie because how did you not know she was here? All the girls out here how how did you not know she was here? Yeah, I understand. I sent you that text, but um that was when I was unaware where we both know she's here now. So, I didn't understand why he was running with that lie. Um um he basically told her, "I'll be back to get you." >> And I mean, and I'm I don't know if it's because he knew the flight was already booked [clears throat] or whatever. I don't know >> which flight >> to go to California >> on the 16th. >> Okay. So, let's talk about the 16th. >> Oh, let's back up. So, 14th, 15th, did Jamari get in trouble at all? Did she do anything to to be disciplined? Was she And what kind of discipline was that? >> So, she was um I can't remember everything she did. She was definitely She had to clean up. I had her I had I told her to clean up um because I couldn't watch her every step of the way um due to me being sick that week. Um I don't know what her dad her dad told her that she was in boot camp and um she had to run on a treadmill and do squats and um running place and stuff like that. Um me I just had her cleaning up. So, when she had you, let's say, running in place, how long did she were in place for? >> Um, honestly, a lot of that didn't go on [clears throat] when I was home. >> Okay. >> Because obviously that's a lot of stomping that I don't want to hear. So, um I don't know, maybe sometimes he would tell her to run for an hour or less. >> And how would she run? Her hands up, hands down. >> Both. >> And did you ever make her run in place or like that? >> I instructed her that, hey, this is what your dad told you to do. >> Pause on how this interview began. Asked what happened, Tishelle Martin's first answer was that Jearia was sleeping when she found her and that she did not know how she died. Within a minute, she admitted pinching her and in the same breath she named the father. That pattern, admit the smallest thing and point at someone else, will repeat for the next 2 hours. Notice too what the detectives are doing. The lieutenant opens with sympathy. A young woman raising five or six children with little help. a difficult child. It sounds generous, but it has a purpose. It invites Martin to explain herself in her own words at length before any evidence is put on the table. Every time she says she was asleep or sick in bed or that she walked away when the whipping started, she commits to a version of events that can be checked. And this house could be checked. It had cameras, door sensors, and an app that logged which phones had access. Listen as well to the language. running in place with her arms up, standing against the wall, a boot camp. Martin describes these as routine discipline. In the arrest affidavit, investigators list them as part of a pattern of abuse. 15th, she just got in trouble, but it was just a clean. She had just had to clean, right? She didn't have to do anything crazy. No running around the block, no treadmill, nothing like that. >> No. >> Okay. On the 16th, >> 16th, you all get up real early in the morning. Now, you were telling me at the interview when we first met that Jamaria got sick on the way and you guys stopped and got her some Gatorade or something, right? >> Not so much sick. She vomit. We um I stopped to the gas station to get Tylenol for myself and um she got a banana and a water, I think. >> Okay. And then you guys didn't continue on to the airport, right? you guys get to the airport and what happens? >> Um, so we got out and she was pushing the suitcase. We were ahead of her. I don't know if she fell or she said or I don't know what happened. She was behind me. [clears throat] Um, all I know is that my daughter Nia was helping her lean over the rail. Um, so I just went got the car, put her in the car because I see that she So what happened was she said that she was feeling hot from the jacket. That's what she eventually told me when we got in the car and that she was scared to get on the plane. Told the girls to proceed. Um, I rode around, figured out they wasn't going to make that flight. Had them stand in line. I think they stood in line for maybe two. I don't know. I'm bad with time and stuff. maybe two hours I would say trying to rebook the flight. I paid the extra money for that. Um we rebooked the flight, left, went straight to the house. Um Jamario was saying, you know, laughing saying, you know, how she was just hot and didn't want to do it, get on the flight and stuff like that. So that did I was upset about that um about her not being honest. Um, we got back home. Um, basically everybody went their own separate ways. >> Can I just ask a quick question? Did you say hot from the jacket? Did she Why was she wearing a jacket? >> Cuz they were going to San Francisco airport. Um, that was her first time on the flight. So, um, I told them to take their jackets and she end up just putting hers on. Okay. I'm sorry. >> So you said regulars are separate ways. What does that mean? >> Like I was sick so I knew I was going to go lay down. So everyone just went separate ways in the house like did whatever they wanted to do. >> So they come back from the park and then um from what I understand you guys are all sitting in in Egypt's room, right? The room that your mom stayed in. And you guys are all and I say you guys all but it's Oaria Egypt you deny Dashara Jamari are watching something on TV I can't remember what they called it now they were watching something on Netflix or whatever and they watch it baddies is what they said they were watching so they watched that a couple of episodes of that and then they realized you were sleeping and then at some point they got up and and and Dia according to Dia and Dara Dia and Dashara and Oaria in Egypt got up and they went into Ozaria's room to play blocks and they left you and Deari alone. I guess you were you know, right? But I'm just telling. So, >> and then Denia later gets a text from you for her to come to the room. So, you said I guess it was just like come or die come or whatever you were calling for. What was that for? >> Something to drink. I was not I don't know. >> Okay. And then you were telling me that you missed a call from your mom around midnight and then you called her back a couple minutes later. Yeah, I was I mean I had been sleeping all day basically like um since we got back. So I was um >> Yeah, I think I was Yeah, I was calling I actually was messing with her like, "Yeah, you going to pick up this phone, >> right?" And who So while you're in the room alone and you text Annia, I mean obviously your phone's right next to you, right? And and you you have the ability to call Dia or text her. So then [clears throat] presumably according to your story, what happens next? You wake up and then it's 4:00 in the morning or earlier, whatever time you woke up. Kind of go from there when you woke up. >> Can't quite remember the time. Um, I went in the bathroom. Um, I didn't see her walking out of the room, but walking back into the room, I saw her on the mattress. Um, I knew she had been peeing on herself, so I tapped her and said, "Do you have to use the bathroom?" She didn't respond. Tapped her again. She didn't have to use it and she [clears throat] didn't respond. So then I called the police. >> Okay. And then anybody can try to do CPR on Jamaria? >> Um me and Deshara. >> Okay. Um and did you notice anything particular about her when you tried doing CPR? Did you notice if she was stiff, if she was cold? >> Yeah, she was stiff. >> Okay. >> I Yeah. >> And which was she face up? Was she face down? She was sleeping face down like regularly how she always sleeps. >> So sleeping on her stomach and then you guys flipped her to start doing CPR obviously, right? Was she >> she she I believe they had they had her on the shower. >> Okay. I know they had the 911 told to pull her off the mattress onto the floor, but we don't know if she was face up or face down. So I was kind of trying to ask you. Um, I believe she was, you mean after the mattress? >> No. When you first saw her on the mattress, face down. >> She was face down. Okay. And then afterwards, you guys flipped her cuz you had to do CPR, mouth to mouth, and all that. And she was wrapped up in a blanket. >> All right. Was she wearing any clothing? >> Um, I don't know. As [clears throat] far as under she had a blanket on her. >> How did Jamaria sprain her ankle and when? She told me that she tripped over the dog food downstairs when she was walking in the dark in the living room. >> So the downstairs living room. >> Okay. And then um how did she get the burns to her feet and her back? >> It was from hot water from the hair. >> What was she doing with the hair? I understand does hair, but trust you. >> Yes, she has to dip it in hot water. Um, and apparently she had moved or something. Um, I wasn't in that. >> Do you know if she dipped it or do you know if she poured it? >> No, >> you don't know. Okay. >> What did Aaria tell you about that or Jamaria? Who whoever however you were told about it? >> I found out um from the the shark. >> What' she say? She told her that I was she told me that I was already told her that >> that she burned herself on the water. I was already said that she took a picture to show it to me but forgot to show it to me. >> They tell you it was bad, not bad. She screamed. She didn't scream. Hurt. Didn't hurt. >> She didn't complain to me about it. She didn't say anything to me. and she had a compression sock on um at the time. >> Who took the sock off? >> I'm not sure. >> Okay. Do you know about um how her lip got busted or her teeth got broken out of her mouth? >> Um I thought it was from the treadmill. >> Do you do you how why do you think it was the treadmill? >> Because that's what she's I believe she told Mario that. >> Okay. When did that happen? >> That week? I don't know exactly which day. >> Did you guys take her to the doctor for it? I mean, teeth injuries are pretty painful. >> Um, no, she didn't. >> No. >> She didn't complain about anything? >> No, I didn't even see it. She didn't even show it to me. >> All right. So, this is a statement form from Carnival Cruise Line. This is from the person that was the counselor that day on your ship um that was that did talk to Jamaria that day. And this is a report from her saying, I mean, you can read it if you want. >> Um, this wasn't the day that she checked herself out. >> That's the first day. >> But that wasn't when this incident happened. >> So, what day was that incident? >> This incident happened maybe like maybe the next day. >> Okay. or the day after. It wasn't the first day. >> Okay. >> And then it says, >> "What day did you guys live on a cruise?" >> We got on the cruise June 2nd. >> It says June 2nd. >> That event didn't happen on that day. I'm almost I even called him and had him on FaceTime and everything. Um she was saying that she was cold and stuff. All right. So, um, so obviously, you know, we we did a search for in your house, right, right after the incident. We held it for two days. It was very convenient. I apologize for that. Um, I'm going to show you some pictures real quick. And another graphic. What is that room? Do you know >> the closet downstairs? >> All right. And whose room is to the right and left of that closet? >> To the right. Na left the shower. >> Okay. And has anybody ever been locked in that room? >> No. >> As punishment? >> No. >> Do you know what a blue star is? >> No. >> You ever seen CSI shows where they have like the spray they spray on blood they call luminol >> and it lights up with blood? >> Mhm. >> Kind of hard to see a little bit in that one. Look at the floor on that one. >> Okay. >> This is a better picture. This is the floor with the door closed. >> Okay. >> So, why would there be blood there? >> I have no idea. >> Is this human blood? Mhm. Or a monkey. It's primate or human. >> I mean, I have animals, so >> but it's not. They won't react with animals. So, isn't the couch that Jamari is slept on? >> Yes. >> See the blessings? >> Wait. Um, >> yeah. >> Okay. And then this is your bathtub upstairs in the master. >> Yes. >> The home security system you guys had, who had access to that? >> Um, >> on their cell phones? me, um, Leanne, and my mom. >> Lan didn't have access to it. >> He had access to the phone. My my phone. >> Your phone? Yes. But who had it on their phone? Was it Leon's phone? >> So, I have had two separate phones and one phone. He used this for that. The other one was my phone that I to run with me every day. >> Who else? >> My mom. >> Okay. So, you, your mom, and the second phone, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. There's only two users. Yeah. >> That's you and your mom. >> Mhm. >> Not on. There's only two. >> So on my phone, I'm logged in. >> Yes. You're logged in and Torso's logged in. >> Mhm. >> Until after this incident. That was the only two phones that are registered with Viant to have access to the system. When you set up your account on your phone, it logs that data. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, we know whose phone is doing what. >> Okay. So, when I asked you earlier what happened on the 12th, I'm asking you that because there's a bunch of videos that were deleted on the 12th and were only deleted by one user and that's either you or your mom. So, I'm asking what happened on the 12th to cause a bunch of videos to be deleted. If something happened where you hit Lan, I don't care. You probably deserve it to be honest with you. But I'm just trying to understand the dynamics inside the house. You said that you pinched Jamaria in the past as punishment. What What was the reason behind pinching? I I I kind of get some parents like when they have a toddler, toddler starts biting you, you know, you bite it back to kind of teach you that actually hurts. What was the purpose behind pinching? What would that do? What kind of punishment is that? >> Um I just know that every time I acted out as a kid, I would get pinched. No, >> but describe that to me. So, like how where would you get would would you get pinched have some relevance to what you did wrong? >> Right. So, um when I did pinch her, I let him know I let I was what I was saying was um every time she does something wrong today, I'm going to pinch her. >> Okay. >> Um that's what I would tell him. Like if she does something wrong today, I'm going to pinch her. >> And where would you pinch her at? >> Like on her arm. Um just outside. Um I'll grab her chest. I mean stomach. The stomach area. Um well, I used to get pinched at and just >> Is that what happened to her nipples? >> What happened to my nipples? >> Um well, her nipples are gone. It's kind of curious because you say that, you know, where wherever she, you know, wherever she messes up, she'll get pinched, but then she's flashing a boy on the boat and now her nipples are missing. >> Well, when that was after the fact. >> I apologize for the gruesomeness of it, but I've had to stare at it for 2 months. Look at her necklace. >> I didn't see that. >> Well, I'm not asking you saw it. I was asking if you knew about it. You did? >> No, I I didn't do that. >> Do you see all the marks all over her body? >> Yes. >> Her autopsy reports over 26 pages long >> because they have to identify all these marks and a lot of these marks on her body are pinch marks. I didn't pinch her that many times. >> You recognize in those photos? >> Um, Jamaria and myself. And what about Oaria? >> Obviously, >> something happened because that's not the way that you normally act. I've I've talked to people. You were a good mom. You helped other parents with their kids. You did their hair. What happened >> um that day? Um, >> we all make mistakes. I don't know if that was the moment that they came to me saying that she was um punching the pillow or what that moment was about. I can't remember. >> What was going through your head? >> What was probably going through my head was that um probably like I'm tired of talking to you. Listen, do what you supposed to do. Um um you know a lot of times I just felt like I was the one protecting her you know for her to turn around and not listen to me when I'm the one keeping you protected coming your dad. Um so I did have moments that I did react to being tired of her not listening to me. >> Do you remember what she had not listened to on that day? That's what I was trying to think of. I think it was the fact that she was being sexual. >> Well, you know, and there's another video, too, of her running in place. You had her running in place and then for whatever reason, you kick her from behind. She trips over the bag of dog food. That's when she sprained her ankle. I mean, that's cuz the next video in her with her in it, she's wearing an ankle wrap. It fits. There's no video of her wandering through the downstairs living room. um you know uh tripping over a bag of dog food. There's a video of her proceeding wearing one wearing a wrap on her foot of her running in place and you kicking her and her falling over a bag of dog food. So it's kind of a halftruth and and that's >> if she sprung her ankle at that time. I did not know >> that's fine, but I'm telling you that you kick her over a bag of dog food and she may have sprained her ankle at that time, right? But there's no video of her wandering around the room. I mean, I will tell you this that your cameras are topnotch. Um, we got 2,820 videos that I had to go through. Um, and it captured a lot a lot inside your >> Maybe the chain was on the door. >> Why I wanted to talk with you though? You can see you spent two and a half months figuring out what happened. Videos, texts, reports from Carnival. I wanted to ask you why and you're kind of disclosing some of that. What was going through your head? Who else is involved? Are are you the only person who should be sitting in that seat or should someone else be? >> Is there a reason? You just don't think that it's nothing that I did physically that could have caused her death. That's just I mean I know what he told me. So that's what, you know, I was leaning more towards. But >> what he told you? >> Um, well, not me, but told her. He like basically let her know that he was going to kill him. So I mean, I didn't know if that was a scare tactic or what, but I honestly >> So what you could have caused her to die? >> What do you think one did? I don't know. >> Well, you see the marks on her, >> right? >> Who calls those marks? You, Luan, someone else? >> I mean, I feel like one did. >> You feel like he did or you know he didn't. >> Only other people it could be is my kids. And I know they didn't do that. I mean, I I I hope that you're not trying to protect someone because I find it hard to believe, just being honest with you, that you as a mother, stepmother, or step whatever you consider yourself a caretaker, do you consider yourself a caretaker of Jamaria? At least >> her mom. >> Her mom. Okay. As a mother to Jamaria, if you didn't do those things or didn't do all of those things, I find hardly you didn't see those marks on her body. No, I don't see all the I >> Some of them aren't even covered. She's wearing shorts. She's walking around naked for God's sakes. >> On some days. Yeah. >> How did you not see them, though? >> Because that week we came back, I was sick. I was in the bed the majority of the time. I honestly can't say what all he did to her because like I said, I walked away from it. Um, >> but we will at least me you saw those marks on her body. >> I I just can't believe that you didn't >> the marks of >> those marks that you just saw in that picture. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I I did pinch I didn't see the remark the reaction from the pinch. No, but I did pinch her. >> What about her face? Were you aware that her face was swollen? She had been hit or suffered some kind of injury to her head where it caused her face to swell up on that. No, >> I mean when I saw her, she I just thought >> What about on the 16th, the day prior? Did you know about it? >> No. >> Dia text you and says, "Hey, maybe we should reschedule this this flight. Let the swelling go down on her head or face." Then I text you that I saw it. >> Did I respond? >> Yes. There was a whole conversation. We've got a lot of conversations between you, Dia, you, Dashara. You and Dia Desara, you and Lean, you and your mom. You and your mom and Lan. We have all those conversations, everything. >> I I don't record it. >> I I know that you received a Snapchat photo of her foot when it was burnt from Ozaria. It was on your phone. Opened. Just cuz you delete something doesn't mean >> No. Oaria told me that she took the she I find out that she said she took the picture to show me. >> You have a picture, >> but I didn't I never saw the picture. You have a picture on your phone. >> Mhm. I never saw >> Jamaria's foot that was opened and the only reason why I know it was open cuz it wouldn't be there unless it was opened. >> But she said that she used my phone to take the picture. >> But you received it from another Snapchat account. >> I don't recall. >> Did seven bite her again? And and and just so you know, she had a laceration behind her ear that was looked like it was caused by a dog bite. So across her head, she had a bite mark here and a bite mark here where he grabbed her across the back of her head when that incident occurred that you said was you and and Rosaria and Jamari in that room. Did seven bite her? >> I'm not that I know of. >> Okay. Were you telling the dog to bite her? Cuz that's what it sounds like in the video. And you're holding the dog back with a leash. I'm going to let you get her. I'm going to let you get her. >> No. No. I probably use it as a scare tactic or something like boo. But nothing. No. Heck. No. >> Okay. >> So, how did she get a puncture behind her ear? >> I didn't see I don't I'm not aware of that. I didn't know anything about that. >> Well, she did. She got a puncture from behind her ear and across the side of her face. It was like a big dog bite. Seven was a big dog. >> Yeah. But I wouldn't do that. >> Okay. >> I mean, I just want to say I didn't cause her death. I didn't kill her. I didn't do murder her. I didn't do none of that. Um, >> but you never asked the whole interview how she died >> because when I have, everyone just tell don't tell me anything. >> But you haven't asked. >> I asked her. >> So >> I was saying like I didn't know how she passed away and stuff. >> So she died from her injuries all the So it's kind of like how it's like it's kind of like um death by a thousand cuts. You ever heard of that? You get a little paper cut pen and it doesn't kill you, right? You get a lot of them. Well, then now your immune system is jacked up because it has to fix these things. It requires energy from your body. So, you break down muscle, which which breaks down proteins that go in your kidney. It's a whole thing, right? And then she has all these injuries that are staggered historically long. So, she's been whipped, she's been pinched, she's been punched, teeth broken, bit in the back of the head by a dog possibly. She has all these injuries that her little body is trying to to fix, right? All at one time. And it's a lot. Um, and then she's not given nutrition. She's not given proper amounts of water. She's not giving proper amounts of food. And we know this because during the autopsy, we empty their stomachs. We check their bladders. We I know what color her urine is. Her urine looked like coffee. And she had so little fluids in her body that we barely didn't get enough blood because her body didn't have enough hydration. So, we know she was dehydrated. We know she wasn't fed and we know she has all these injuries that she's trying to to recover from. >> I fed her literally every day on the cruise, every day since. >> But here's what happens when your body can't get food. It breaks down muscle. So I tell you not to starve yourself cuz you lose all your muscle mass. So her body breaks down this muscle to try to repair itself. Well, the problem is a lot of protein goes in the kidneys. Kidneys aren't built for that. They shut down and then she dies. So literally preventable from one not hitting the child like that, not making her exercise like that, not pinching her like that, not having her teeth broke, not having her dog bit, but hydration. The child died because she wasn't given water, enough water. That's why she died >> from her injury. >> But I did I mean like there's no I She's never been deprived of no food. like every everyone has full access to everything in the house. >> This is the turning point of the interview. For the first hour, detectives mostly asked. Now they start to show a written statement from a counselor on the cruise ship. Photographs of floors that lit up under a blood detecting reagent. Account records showing only two phones were registered to the home security system, Martins and her mother's, and that a batch of videos was deleted on June 12th. and the number the detective keeps returning to. 2,820 clips from inside the house. Watch what happens to her account under that pressure. At the start, she had not seen the marks. Then she pinched Jamaria, but not that many times. Then she pinched her on the arms. The admissions grow only as fast as the evidence does. There is another moment detectives treat as significant. After more than an hour, she had never asked how Jamaria died. It is worth being precise about the medicine. The detective's explanation, injuries piling up, dehydration, the kidneys failing, is his account in the room. The medical examiner's ruling, as reported, is complications of multiple blunt force injuries with a thermal burn to her right foot. >> 2,820 photo or videos. I know that number because I've watched every one of them more than once. >> Okay. >> I rarely if ever I see Ozari, I see Deni, I see Lan. I see you. I see everyone getting food. >> Well, not me. >> You get food? >> I didn't eat. Trust me, >> you don't eat often, but you eat more than Jamari did. >> No, Jamar. Listen, Jamaria came moved into our house eating cereal and noodles. if she lost a lot of weight because she told us cuz we had meals. She told us that's not what she wants to eat. Dad told her she has to eat those meals that is served to her. So Jamari lost weight because she couldn't eat cereal and noodles anymore. We found out that me cleaning up the house and stuff like that. We found out that she had been taking her dinners, stuffing it in her backpack, stuffing it in corners, stuffing it under the couch, which is why we got so many roaches now because they had been taking the food that was cooked for them, placing it other places. But they still had full access to I never told her not one time she could not go in the kitchen, eat nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing. I don't think she was scaring me. >> I saw the videos. Even when I disciplined her, she would let me know. She was like, "Mom, I understand stood what I did, etc." Whatever. Um, >> most abused kids do. You know why? Because they don't want it to happen again. >> They will tell you what you want to hear. I'll be your best friend. Don't hit me again. >> Right. >> She didn't mean it. >> I can honestly say I didn't abuse her. Um, I mean, >> what is that? >> I wasn't I wouldn't let her dad deal with her. I probably had times well like that. I would say >> that's abuse. Is that not abuse? >> There were times where I did, you know, get overwhelmed, but that was not I wasn't I've never left a a bruise a bruise on her. Like >> what were those pinch marks? >> I told you I didn't see I didn't know that it was bruised from the pinch marks. >> Those aren't bruises. Those are cuts from the nail going in. There are some bruises where somebody grabbed her by the arm and dug her nails in and kind of probably pulled her up the stairs or something, but there's a lot of those are actual pinch marks from your fingernails. >> Okay. Well, I didn't cause all those bruises. Um, and I didn't know that. Well, cuts. Um, I've never seen any bruises on her from me discipline her. Um, >> you didn't see those cut marks from the pinch? >> Yeah, the ones on her arm. >> That's all you saw? >> Yeah. >> So, we're going to leave here today with a story of you did all this. You've never abused her and you only caused the the small fraction of the ones on her arm. That's the story you want to leave with that you want to take to court and say, "Here, this is my story." I didn't abuse her. The video was me, but I didn't I didn't I didn't abuse her. And only the pinch marks are armed for me. The rest of them are from the lawn, which wasn't there at that house. >> How did he threaten you? >> He just told me that if I would leave him, he was going to kill me. >> I mean, to do with this, you covering for him, you lying for him, you taking the blame for him. >> I mean, basically what he was just saying is like he can't go back to prison. He can't go back to prison. He can't go back to prison. >> But you didn't go. >> I mean, that's what I asked him. He was like, >> "Well, that's some [ __ ] >> He's got a history of child." And be like, >> that's all he kept saying is he can't go back to prison. He can't go back to prison. >> Why? Why can't he go back to prison? Cuz he don't want to. >> I bet you don't. >> He says he has a baby on the way. Reason. >> You have how many kids? How many? >> Four. >> Okay. What about your kids? >> The whole reason he got them because I let him know early on that we we're not equipped to deal with this right now. Take on two more kids and we got four that we're already struggling with. So, I just feel like it was for the money cuz him being with them, I never saw him be a father. >> No, because he gets the money and you get all the responsibility >> and I got the responsibility >> and now he gets a free ticket out of jail. while you get left holding the bag of [ __ ] >> because he can just say I wasn't there. There's video of him leaving. There's video of him leaving. >> What actually happened with him? When was he actually there? Rewind and >> think about you and your kids instead of him and and his kid with his new baby mama that he didn't tell you about. So basically um I just remember it being like 910ish at [clears throat] night. >> What day are we talking about? >> I don't It could have been I don't know if it was Saturday or Sunday. Um trying to use references. So Sunday was the day of the flight. >> Okay. Um, I believe she said it was the date Saturday. >> Who is she? >> Desar. >> And what did she say? >> That she saw him and Martin together. >> Where at? >> Downstairs. >> In the living room. In the upstairs room or upstairs, sorry. In her room. Cuz you only have Dia Desar's room. the closet, that pool where the pool table is, and then you have the living room. So, which room were they in in those rooms? >> Um, I honestly don't know. >> Well, the sensors on the windows work, right? And the door sensors work. So, we know when doors are open or closed. We know windows are open and closed. We have, >> right? >> So, um, if what you're saying is true, somebody opened the door between 9 and 10:00 on the 15th and they're not on camera. And if what you're saying is a lie, >> then >> I'm not sure if someone opened up the door for him. >> How do you get in? >> I I don't know. >> He's not It's not Houdini. He He can't just magically show up in the house. He's got to come in some way. And the nice thing about your house is you have security systems that I have logs for for everything. >> Right. >> So, I would just say ask the kids because >> No, I'm going to look at the logs and then I'm going to ask the kids and then if they lie to me, then that it is what it is, >> right? Um, I honestly don't know how he got in the house that night. >> Okay. >> I I don't know. I just know that he has his ways. >> Are you sure it wasn't um Desar's boyfriend or Denia's boyfriend that came in there? >> No. >> You're not sure? Could Could it have been Dia or Desar's boyfriends that came over? Cuz they came over that weekend. Yeah. >> And they were out partying all night till like 2:00 in the morning. Could that male voice you heard be one of them? No, >> no. You you're hurt on >> right now. He's threatening me with like my children where like him being able to place Egypt in places that he know I doesn't want her to be, >> etc. Um, of course, I don't want my child with his mom, etc., because they do witchcraft. So right now, a lot of this has been to basically be on his side so my children aren't ending up places where I don't want them to be. >> Egypt is his daughter though, right? Is that the one? >> Okay. So that's right. Gerard. >> So you're afraid that he will be able to put his daughter with his mother? >> Yes. That's exactly what he's doing. and in exchange you'll cover for him and then he won't put Egypt with his mother. >> So he basically just asked me not to let you know it be known that he threatened her and was whooping her and stuff because he's already out on probation. >> And you and you've already told us those things. >> I really want to speak with my mom um and see if she knows anything. I want to >> What did he tell you he was going to do? >> He told me that he was going to um whoop her so bad that it left bruises. I mean that he didn't care if it left bruises or not because she could use the summer to heal. >> Did he tell you that how how to communicate that? He told her that he was on the phone yelling at her and he was like, "I'm going to whoop your ass so bad that um and I don't care about you um having bruises because you got omeong to heal." And then he was like um I'm going to kill you, but you know, I wouldn't have I would never think that that would come true. >> And when when did where were you guys at when you said that to her on the phone? >> In the in the room. >> In what room? um in the room on the ship. The kids were in the room. They witnessed the conversation as well. >> And then like just the fact to know that he was telling the big girls to do these things. Like I just feel like this is all set up >> to punch her in the throat. >> Yeah. cuz I always wondered like what would make him say something like him. Basically wanted everybody to take the right but him. >> Do you think he knew that she was going to die? >> It was intentional. >> Looking at everything now, I feel like yes. >> Why would he want her to die? I >> honestly I feel like everything Yes. simply because he knew he has never anytime we got into an argument I asked him to leave the house is always I can't switch my address whatever like that he has never like moved out and and we've done this a lot >> this time was the only time that he has actually left um and the only time he has actually said, "Okay, now I can switch my address." >> Mhm. >> Um, including the fact that everything that he said he was going to do happened, including the fact that um I just feel like it's a way to punish me for leaving him, not wanting to be with him anymore. >> What's What's the way to punish you? just on there >> being accountable for Jamari's death. >> Honestly, do you think that you're at all accountable for her death >> in your heart? I just I mean [sighs] when you say accountable I feel like I probably could have did more to you know possibly prevent things from happening. um you know but the situation you know me dealing with my kids you I mean me having a certain way I deal with my kids this is your certain way of how you deal with your kids me not wanting to interfere and cause more um trouble and then on top of the threats you know like I do feel like I could could have possibly done more. Um, as far as her her coming to her death, I don't feel like I'm accountable for that. >> By now, Taishel Martin's position has settled into three parts. She pinched Jamaria. She did not abuse her and she did not cause her death. Everything else she places on Lohan Sessions. He threatened the child, she says. He ordered the exercises. He may even have slipped back into the house on the night of June 15th. That last claim matters because the detectives contested. The home's door and window sensors logged every opening and closing. And the detective tells her plainly that if someone came in that night, the system would show it. Martin also offers a motive for the father, the child's benefit checks, and frames herself as a victim of his threats. None of that is a confession, and none of it clears him either. Lohan Sessions would be arrested 2 days after this interview, but the state's case against Martin rests on something she cannot easily explain away. The security video from the night of June 15th. Detectives have quoted it to her once already. In the final part of this interview, they read her the charges and they tell her exactly which words on that video turned this into a murder case. >> Is there Am I able to call my mom? >> Yeah, you we'll be able to call your mom. Um we have to get you booked in and you can definitely call your mom. >> And what are you saying I'm being charged with? >> Um premeditated murder, first degree, which is the top. And then there's um aggravated child uh abuse. >> And why am I being charged with premeditated murder? >> Well, because some of the statements that you made uh while you were attacking Jamaria >> without killing her. >> Scare tactics. >> So scare tactics was also premeditation. It's scare tactics and then if you say it and then it happens, what does that look like? It's crazy because I only said that because he said that and I was just dad. >> I get it. But if you say, "I'm going to kill [clears throat] you and then the child's dead the next day from injuries caused potentially by you." What does that look like? >> Look bad, but that's not what happened. >> And in the last chart, I think it said child. So child aggravated child abuse, child murder. Is there anything else you want to say about any of this you want to tell us? You think it's important? >> I I just know that I didn't do this. Like I would never do anything to kill her. Right. Those words came honestly because he had just told her that and I knew she was scared from that. So when she did something wrong, I just used it. But I I would never do nothing like that. I would never do anything. And then to say that I, you know, it came from me saying that and and doing like she didn't pass away from me whooping her or disciplining her, disciplining her. >> Yeah. So, and and we can go this around and around and around. Um, the cause of her death is based off the injuries she's received over a period of time by you and by one. With that being said, yeah, it's a contributing factor. But I wasn't abusing her over the time though. >> On the 15th when you kicked her down, punched her or kicked her in the gut, kicked her in the back, stomped her head, grabbed her by her hair, dragged her across the floor, had the dog like he's gnawing on her face, right? And you're she's at the bottom of the stairs and she's lifeless and helpless and limp and you're yelling her to get the [ __ ] up. Go upstairs. Get the [ __ ] up. This [ __ ] wants me to kill her. >> Yeah, I was. Okay. So, question for you. Does that look good or does that look bad? >> No, it looks bad. >> Okay. Is that abuse? >> Just words. >> No, it wasn't just words. You kicked her repeatedly. You stomped her head. You kicked her in the back, hit her in the stomach. You dragged her by her hair, across the floor, up the stair. Like, so that's abuse. I don't know how you want to define that. That's not discipline. That's not corporal punishment. That's not a scare tactic. That's straight up abuse. So, if you're asking me honestly, did you abuse her? Yeah. Yeah. This wasn't like I I I hit her on the butt once with a belt and she moved so it got her lower leg type argument. This is pretty bad. And the video is pretty bad. >> And we don't have videos of Milan that whether it be because you deleted them, the ones of him, or he was hard enough not to do it on video. thus far spending so much time with you asking you cuz your kids have already told us no. >> So just from that alone that was enough to kill her. >> If a mosquito lands on you and sucking your blood and you go you you have two choices. You can move your arm and make it fly away or smack your arm and kill it. That quick of a decision is free meditation. It >> was honestly just words just repeating what he said to her. Um, >> problem is we have you on video doing it, >> but not trying to cure her. >> But what you did looks like it >> resulted in her death, though. >> I'm sorry. >> What she did, it resulted in her death. >> This isn't a gunshot wound or stabbing or or a shooting or or whatever. This is a very unique case where the abuse that she suffered, which we have on video, contributed to her death. I gave your daughter Dia so many opportunities to tell the damn truth. She is a horrible liar. >> Yes, she did. >> Hello. >> Hey, ma. >> Hey. Um um I'm going to need you to come forward and be honest about the abuse from the one um towards myself and the kid Jamaria. Um I'm with the detective. Uh, he asked me, so I'm going to ask you, did you um I know you said Jamaria was telling you she was scared of him and stuff and that she that's why she wanted to go with you, but did she show you or did you see any of the bruises that he um put on her? >> No, she didn't. She didn't show me nothing. No, she said that she wanted to go back to California with me because she was scared of what her daddy was going to do to her. That's what she said to me. >> Tyel Martin was booked into the Lake County jail that night. 2 days later, deputies in Orange County arrested Loan Sessions on a Lake County warrant. He was charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child. Investigators say he was not in the house the night his daughter died, but that he knew about the abuse and at times encouraged and directed what was called a boot camp. According to the arrest affidavit, the decisive evidence came from the family's own cameras. Six clips recorded between 11:50 and 11:57 on the night of June 15th show Jaria being attacked by the family's Rottweiler while Martin held the leash, then being kicked, struck, and dragged by her hair. Investigators say Martin can be heard saying she was fixing to kill her. Just over a day later, Jamaria was found unresponsive. In the months after the arrests, WFTV reported jailhouse letters between the two defendants in which each appeared to acknowledge a share of responsibility. And a Lake County Sheriff's supervisor, who 3 months earlier had closed a requested welfare check on Jamaria's sister without sending anyone to the house, was disciplined and reassigned to the jail. On September 24th, 2024, a Lake County grand jury indicted Taiishelle Martin on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter of a child, aggravated child abuse, and child neglect. She pleaded not guilty. In October 2024, the state filed notice that it will seek the death penalty. Lohan Sessions is charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child and has also pleaded not guilty. As of this episode, no verdict has been reported in either case. Both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court. Jamaria Faith Sessions was born on January 15th, 2015. She was 9 years old. Her funeral was held in Orlando on August 3rd, 2024. Jamaria's case is still waiting for a jury. If you want to see what really happens inside rooms like this one, how detectives test a story, and what the evidence actually shows, subscribe to Evidence Lab Interrogation and turn on notifications so you don't miss the next case.