A Florida mother will spend the rest of her life in prison after being sentenced for the heartbreaking murder of her 3-year-old daughter. Authorities say 39-year-old Joanne Zephir first tried to poison her little girl with bleach-laced milk. When that failed, she strangled her to death.
On Wednesday, Osceola County Circuit Court Judge Keith Carsten handed Zephir a life sentence with no chance of parole. She had initially faced the death penalty but avoided it by agreeing to a plea deal. In exchange for her guilty plea, prosecutors dropped one charge and decided not to pursue the death penalty.
This tragic case unfolded in May 2022 in Kissimmee, Florida. Authorities say Zephir not only tried to kill her toddler but also forced her 8-year-old daughter to drink the poisoned milk. She even stabbed her husband before leaving with the children.
The incident came to light after Zephir called her sister-in-law, confessing that she had poisoned both of her daughters and that one was already dead. Panicked, the sister-in-law immediately dialed 911. While speaking to Zephir, she asked to talk to the older daughter and told the frightened child to run and find help.
Deputies with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office quickly launched a search for Zephir’s Toyota Corolla. They found the 8-year-old girl safe, and she led them to a church parking lot on Old Pleasant Hill Road. That’s where they discovered Zephir sitting in her car with her 3-year-old daughter in the back seat.
According to authorities, Zephir appeared dazed, was drooling from the mouth, and the strong smell of bleach filled the vehicle. The toddler was unresponsive in her pink car seat. Emergency responders tried to save her, but it was too late.
At the hospital, the 8-year-old bravely told investigators what happened. She said her mother had picked up both girls from their aunt’s house and driven them to the parking lot, where they all took a nap. When they woke up, Zephir handed them a bottle of “special milk,” claiming it would clean their bellies.
The toddler drank some of the milk but complained that it tasted bad. Zephir insisted she drink more, forcing her to consume about half the bottle. Then, she gave it to her older daughter, who took a few big sips before vomiting. The child later told investigators that the milk smelled awful, “like pickles,” and burned her tongue. But her mother kept telling her it was “good for them” and that she had to drink it.
Shortly after, the toddler stopped breathing. Her older sister saw what happened and realized something was terribly wrong.
During her confession, Zephir admitted that she had stabbed her husband before picking up the girls. She also revealed that after killing her youngest daughter, she had tried to take her own life by drinking bleach, believing both children were dead.
Now, Zephir will remain behind bars for the rest of her life, paying the price for this horrifying crime. Meanwhile, the 8-year-old survivor will have to live with the trauma of that terrible night.
