Police investigate murder of child

LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla. (WSVN) -- Authorities have ruled the death of a young child to be a murder.

Judy Morris reportedly discovered the dead body of her 22-month-old granddaughter, Jamisa Poitier, inside the girl's home, located at 4232 NW 34th Way, Saturday morning. "I looked, and she was lifeless," said the grandmother. "Right now, I'm still numb."

According to Judy Morris, before the child was found dead, Jamisa's mother, 24-year-old Shari Morris, was involved in a fight with her boyfriend. Judy Morris said, "And anybody knows Shari, they know that if you want to hurt her, touch her kids. That's her heart."

The Broward Sheriff's Office initially began conducting a death investigation. However, medical examiners performed an autopsy on Jamisa, which led county detectives to classify the child's death as a homicide. BSO has not yet released any of the results from the autopsy. "We're trying to determine exactly what happened that led to the death of a young child. What we know at this point is a family has endured a great loss," said Dani Moschella of BSO.

Meanwhile, the child's family continues to mourn their loss and prepare for Jamisa's funeral. Aleisha Reid, Jamisa's cousin, said, "We have family coming from everywhere in America to come to this funeral."

"It's very tough. It's very sad. I still can't believe it. It still hasn't hit me," said Dominique Porteous, another cousin.

"We'll pull through this because the support is very outpuring," said the victim's grandmother.

Shari Morris remains Florida Medical Center as she tries to deal with her daughter's death. "She's very weak, and she's not eating, and she said her legs can't stand up," said Judy Morris. "Shari is empty. Without her kids, she's empty."

Reid said, "She's doing better today than yesterday. She's not doing much greater, and I don't know what mother would."

Many of the victim's family members think that the boyfriend of Shari Morris is behind Jamisa's death. "I think it's pathetic. Why would someone do that to a child? You killed a baby, a little girl, my cousin that we all love," said Reid.

However, according to investigators, no suspect has been named, arrested or charged in the child's death. BSO said there is a warrant out for Shari's boyfriend's arrest, but the warrant is unrelated to the case. "Justice shall be done," said Judy Morris. "The police are going to find he, she, whoever it is, and bring them to justice."

Florida's Department of Children and Families is looking into the child's death, while Broward County homicide detectives continue the investigation. "I hope the police and the investigation, I hope it goes, and they do what they have to do and get to the bottom of it, and let the chips fall where they may," said Judy Morris."She wasn't even two years old. She was the sweetest little girl. Who would do this to her? I had no idea a human being could do this."

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