MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Tracie Puskac was arrested Monday on a second-degree murder charge in connection with the death of her 17-month-old son, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Sheriff’s office investigators said they’re convinced the 36-year-old mother from Summerfield is responsible for the horrific death of her son Jermiyah.
But according Puskac’s mother detectives had it all wrong.
Channel 9′s Raphael Pires spoke to the mother of the accused killer at her home.
The suspect’s mother said she’s never seen her daughter harm her grandchildren.
Read: Bodycam videos show police fatally shoot man in downtown Orlando
“I’m still processing it” said Puskac’s mother Diane Watson. “I don’t think she has it in her.”
“I don’t think she’s a killer or murderer,” Watson added.
But the body camera video that Channel 9 obtained exclusively from the Sheriff’s Office tells a different story of the woman charged with the murder of her infant son.
Deputies said that on April 27, they responded to a call at Southeast 42nd Avenue.
That’s where they discovered Jermiyah Puskac unresponsive.
The body camera video shows the Marion County deputies questioning Puskac.
Read: Police: 3 men dead, 1 in custody after Daytona Beach shooting
“When he had a seizure last night, did you call for medics or take him to a hospital?” deputies asked.
Puskac responded “I don’t know what a seizure is.”
“Then how do you know he had a seizure.” investigators responded.
Read: Central Florida sees spike in child labor cases
The infant was taken to Advent Health Belleview Emergency Room before being transferred to UF Health Shands Hospital
Jermiyah died two days later.
Fast forward to just a few days ago where the medical examiner determined the cause of death was brain and spinal cord injuries.
Puskac was charged with homicide.
Read: Man, 70, killed in Oviedo crash
Marion County Sheriff’s office spokesperson Valerie Strong said the suspect’s story continued to change.
“At one moment the child was hitting his own head on the floor, the next moment he hit it in the shower, then she even blamed it on another 4-year-old child hitting him with a toy,” Strong said.
“Nothing she said fit the injuries she had, and she was the only one alone with him.” according to Strong.
Missing St. Cloud woman’s body found in East Lake Toho
This is not Puska’s first criminal charge.
Back in 2020, records show she was also arrested for battery of an elderly person and child neglect.
Puskac is being held without bail at the Marion County Jail.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group
