Who is Joshua Manns? Florida babysitter kills boy, 3, but tells mom her child drowned
WEST MELBOURNE, FLORIDA: Last month, a Florida mother received a horrifying phone call from her babysitter saying that her 3-year-old son had drowned in the bathtub. Later, it was revealed that the young boy was abused and murdered by his babysitter.
Joshua Manns, 25, is accused of abusing and killing a 3-year-old boy named Jameson Nance last month. Manns, who was Nance's babysitter, did not say a word as the judge said he is to remain behind bars without bond. According to newly released arrest affidavits, Manns was taking care of the preschooler in a West Melbourne home while his mom was at work on June 11. As the boy's mother was leaving from work, she received a call from Manns saying that her son has died after drowning in the bathtub. When she came back home, she found her son dead in the bathroom and realized that Manns had taken off without calling anyone for help.
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Investigators stated that Manns left a handwritten note in the apartment stating "I had a seizure" while the boy was in the bathtub and drowned. He further added: “No one would believe me and I does not want to spend the rest of his life in prison for something I did not do.”
The medical examiner has said that he did not find any evidence of drowning. Instead, the autopsy clearly revealed signs of battered child syndrome with injuries from weeks ago including a fractured rib, brain swelling and stabs to his head.
The department also learned that Nance suffered a broken leg in March 2021 and that the Department of Children and Family Services investigated another broken leg two years ago in 2019. In June 2021, DCF went to Jameson’s daycare to examine “suspicious” injuries including a burn on his arm. After searching for two weeks, the law enforcement found Manns and arrested him in Georgia over two weeks after the boy’s death. Investigators said Manns was trying to escape with help from relatives to get back to his home state of West Virginia.