TAMPA, Fla. – The Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office has indicted Tyrone Covington for first-degree murder. With this decision, Covington can now be prosecuted for the intentional murder of an 8-year-old boy on October 22, 2020.
Prosecutors presented the case to the Hillsborough County grand jury, which returned the indictment Thursday.
On Thursday, October 22, 2020, the child’s mother called 911 asking for help because her child was struggling to breathe and had become unresponsive. The child was transported to Brandon Hospital and then airlifted to John’s Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.
Doctors discovered several large areas of contusions, welts, scarring, and small lacerations on the child’s lower back and rear area. Attempts to stabilize the child were unsuccessful and the eight-year-old died a day later.
During interviews, detectives learned the child’s mother’s boyfriend, Tyrone Covington, 40, had abused the victim with a belt. Autopsy results concluded the child’s death was caused by blunt trauma and ruled it a homicide.
Under Florida law, the crime of first-degree murder cannot be charged directly by the State Attorney; instead, prosecutors must present evidence to a grand jury made up of members of the community.
The grand jury then determines whether the evidence is sufficient to indict a person, and the indictment allows the State Attorney to prosecute the defendant.
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