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Florida woman whose parental rights had been revoked stabs daughter, 6, to death before trying to kill herself

The child, Atarah, was stabbed many times with a kitchen knife by her mother who afterward stabbed herself many times using the same knife
UPDATED SEP 1, 2020
Purkanah Mayo (Jacksonville Sheriff's Office), Atarah (GoFundMe)
Purkanah Mayo (Jacksonville Sheriff's Office), Atarah (GoFundMe)

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA: A Florida mother has been accused of stabbing her daughter, 6, to death. Purkanah Mayo,36, is being held without bond on a second-degree murder count after she committed the crime on August 19  in the area of the 1800 block of New Haven Road. According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, the allegations against Mayo were confirmed but they did not name her daughter as the victim. An online campaign for the child has identified her name as Atarah.

Mayo had also appeared in front of a judge on Saturday, August 29, but had not entered any plea to the charge was levied against her. News4Jax reports that the child Atarah was stabbed many times with a kitchen knife by Mayo who afterward stabbed herself many times using the same knife and was taken to the hospital where her condition was said to be critical.  

The horrific incident had reportedly taken place inside an Arlington home that Mayo does not live in. Atarah was immediately rushed to a hospital where she succumbed to the injuries sustained. Mayo recovered from her wounds and was released by doctors on Friday, August 28. Jacksonville Sheriff Office said six other people were also inside the home when the incident happened. All parties involved are in custody and witnesses are being interviewed, according to police. 

According to the Department of Children and Families, Mayo was the child's mother but her parental rights had been previously terminated and that she had been visiting the child's home. Soon a GoFundMe campaign was started to help with the child's funeral cost. The account describes Atarah was a "bright young girl with a contagious smile and a huge heart." 

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office shared on Facebook that Mayo had been arrested for the crime. Their post read, "On Wednesday, August 19, 2020, patrol officers responded to the area of 1800 New Haven Road in reference to a stabbing investigation. Upon arrival, officers located the 6-year-old victim, who was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased."

"Purkanah Mayo was subsequently identified as the suspect. On Friday, August 28, 2020, Purkanah Mayo was arrested and charged with Murder in the Second Degree." Many social media users took to commenting on the post in outrage over the loss of life. 

One such user shared, "U are a pure sick individual. People that do not want their children give them to a relative you do not need to kill their poor little souls. You need to be put an electric chair and never be seen on this earth again. You are an evil witch." 

Another user commented and said, "Man I can’t stand hearing stories like this breaks my heart like how someone in the wrong state of mind can even do this yo they own child." Yet another added, "2nd Degree, WTH Is happening here. AND WHY NO ADULTS IN THE HOME HEARD HER CRY, EACH OF THEM NEEDS TO BE ARRESTED THEY DID NOT PROTECT THAT CHILD AND WHY WAS THE MOTHER NOT SUPERVISE ?"

"Wow.... Your own seed. If anything this should bring us all together..That poor baby lost her innocence and life all in a matter of moments by her own mother..someone thats meant to protect and keep safe her own. That angel is up in heaven singing gloriously I know," wrote a Facebook user. 

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