A teenage Winter Haven mom is behind bars, charged with aggravated manslaughter after the death of her 8-month-old daughter.

  • Jada LeBeouf charged with aggravated manslaughter
  • Sheriff Judd says woman lied to mother, authorities
  • Baby suffocated earlier this year

Investigators said Journey LeBeouf died of suffocation on Feb. 13 and that her mother, Jada LeBeouf, did not provide the care and supervision to prevent her death.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd called the death tragic and totally preventable.

He said his investigators learned through Jada's friend and Facebook messages that she was out in Orlando smoking hookah with friends early that morning, while her baby was home, not being cared for and suffocating.

Judd said Jada lied to his investigators about her whereabouts that morning.

"She lied to her mother, she lied to us, but our investigation told us something different. It told us she left that baby alone almost five hours, and the baby wrapped up in the blanket and suffocated. Jada murdered the baby with her neglectful actions," Judd said.

Jada LeBeouf had nothing to say Thursday as she was arrested and escorted out of the Polk County Sheriff's Office in Winter Haven into a squad car, headed to jail.

The arrest affidavit says that Jada's mother, step-dad and sister were home at the time of the baby's death but they told investigators they were unaware Jada had left the baby in the living room by itself.

When her mother realized Jada wasn't in the home at 4:40 a.m., she thought Jada took the baby with her. The arrest affidavit said Jada's mom texted her to find out where she was, and Jada told her she was out to eat.

Sheriff Judd said Jada never told her mother to check on the baby.