Grand jury indicts Titusville foster mom on multiple charges in relation to death of child

October 6, 2021

1–2 minutes

Florida Today – A Brevard County grand jury indicted a Titusville woman Tuesday on multiple charges in relation to the death of a foster child in her care, state attorney officials said.

Lakeisha Mitchell, 41, was arrested Aug. 23 after she called Titusville Police Department and reported that Joy King-Castro, a 4-year-old foster child in her care, was unconscious in a bathtub, officials said. Joy was taken to Parrish Medical Center in critical condition, then intubated at Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital. She died Aug. 25.

Mitchell said the incident was an accident, but the medical staff found injuries that were inconsistent with Mitchell’s report and ultimately resulted in her death, state attorney officials said. Following the child’s death, the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, and Mitchell was charged with murder.

The grand jury heard testimony from officials with the Titusville Police Department, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the Brevard County medical examiner’s office, state attorney officials said.

Following these testimonies, they indicted Mitchell for first-degree felony murder, aggravated child abuse with great bodily harm, neglect of a child and child abuse.