Grace Wingate faces three felony charges after a medical examiner classified a 3-year-old girl’s April death as a homicide.
TAMPA, Fla. — A 29-year-old woman accused in the death of her girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter remains jailed without bond as the case moves toward a scheduled arraignment in Hillsborough County.
Grace Wingate is charged with first-degree murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse, aggravated child abuse and child neglect causing great bodily harm. She was arrested after authorities obtained a warrant July 16 and was denied bond at her first appearance.
The charges follow an investigation that began April 25, when the child was taken to a Brandon hospital with what the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office described as several inflicted injuries. The girl died that day, and the medical examiner later determined that her death was a homicide.
Investigators said the child was in Wingate’s care when the injuries occurred. State Attorney Suzy Lopez said Wingate was in a relationship with the girl’s mother and accused Wingate of fatally beating the child while the girl was at Wingate’s apartment.
Those statements describe the prosecution’s allegations and do not constitute a finding of guilt. Wingate is presumed innocent unless she is convicted, and authorities have not publicly detailed the evidence that will be presented in court.
The most serious count alleges first-degree murder committed during aggravated child abuse. The other charges separately accuse Wingate of aggravated abuse and of failing to protect the child from harm that caused great bodily injury.
Sheriff Chad Chronister said his office would continue working with prosecutors on the case. He described the death as a breach of the responsibility held by a person entrusted with a child’s care.
“A child lost her life at the hands of the person entrusted to protect her,” Chronister said. “We will not tolerate violence against anyone in our community, especially innocent children.”
No information about Wingate’s defense attorney or a formal response to the allegations was included in the available reports. Authorities also have not released the child’s identity, further information about her mother or a detailed timeline of the events before she was taken to the hospital.
Wingate remained at the Falkenburg Road Jail as of Wednesday. Her arraignment, the next scheduled court proceeding identified by officials, is set for 8:30 a.m. Monday, July 27.
Author note: Last updated July 22, 2026.