A Brandon woman accused of beating her girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter to death has been indicted on murder and child abuse charges.
Grace Shaurice Ayesha Wingate, 29, was arrested Thursday after a grand jury handed down an indictment on charges of first-degree murder while engaged in child abuse, aggravated child abuse and child neglect, according to court documents and a news release from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
A probable cause affidavit with details of the investigation was not immediately available Monday.
Wingate is accused of beating the girl to death on April 25 in Wingate’s Brandon apartment, according to social media posts made Friday by the Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office after Wingate’s first court appearance.
A judge during that hearing ordered Wingate to be held without bond and appointed her a public defender.
Kimberly Hindman, Hillsborough’s chief assistant public defender, said it would not be appropriate for the office to comment on the case because it’s still pending.
“We remain committed to protecting our client’s constitutional rights through the judicial process,” Hindman said in a text message.
The investigation began that day after the girl arrived at Brandon Regional Hospital “with several inflicted injuries,” according to the sheriff’s office. The girl was in Wingate’s care that day, and the Hillsborough Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide, the sheriff’s office said.
Authorities have not released the girl’s name, and it is redacted in the indictment available on the Hillsborough Clerk of Court’s website.
A GoFundMe campaign created to raise money for the family, as well as public social media posts by family members, identifies her as Kamora Figgs.
Karen Figgs, the girl’s grandmother and the creator of the campaign, did not immediately respond to a message sent through the page Monday.
“Kamora was the smartest sweetest little girl and so loved by many,” the page says. “She enjoyed living life and spending time with family, her favorite colors were yellow and pink, she loved Minnie Mouse. She will be missed.”
