A Florida woman accused of using the online gaming platform Roblox to encourage violence against an infant has reached a plea deal that dramatically reduces the charges she once faced.
According to The Pensacola News Journal, Tara Sykes, a Pensacola resident, entered a no-contest plea on January 22 to a single count of child neglect without great bodily harm, according to court records.
As part of the agreement, prosecutors dropped far more serious charges, including attempted first-degree murder and multiple counts of solicitation to commit murder—offenses that could have resulted in life sentences if she had been convicted.
Sykes was sentenced to 11 months and 30 days in county jail, with credit for 462 days already served, effectively completing her incarceration.
The case drew national attention in 2024 after Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators alleged that Sykes used Roblox to communicate with a 10-year-old girl.
Authorities claimed those messages were part of an effort to persuade the child to kill a 2-month-old infant and the adults caring for the baby.
Investigators became involved after the infant suffered serious injuries when the child dropped the baby onto the kitchen floor. According to a sheriff’s office release at the time, Sykes allegedly suggested multiple methods to harm the infant, including drowning and scalding, and also discussed violent acts against the adults in the home.
The 10-year-old later told authorities she was “terrified” and believed Sykes would kill her if she didn’t comply.
Roblox, however, disputed that characterization. In a statement issued in 2024, company officials said their internal review of the messages “did not contain the alleged instructions for violence” described by law enforcement.
Beyond the Roblox-related allegations, Sykes remains entangled in other serious legal issues.
Earlier in 2024, she was arrested on child neglect charges after investigators said she and her husband allowed a 20-year-old man to live in their home despite knowing he had impregnated their 14-year-old daughter. Deputies reported the teen was 31 weeks pregnant, malnourished, and had allegedly been sexually abused.
That investigation later expanded to include an extortion charge. According to reports, Sykes and her husband allegedly threatened the young man and his family, demanding money in exchange for silence.
One report quotes the victim saying Sykes threatened to “starve her” if she didn’t agree to give up her baby.
Sykes is scheduled to return to court on April 8 to face the remaining child neglect and extortion charges.