Tampa police charge mother with murder of her four-year-old son

TAMPA, Fla. (WWSB) – Tampa police have arrested 36-year-old Arayiah Hudson and charged her with the murder of her four-year-old son.

“This is a heinous crime. Every child has the right to feel safe in their own home and, most importantly, with their own mother,” said Police Chief Lee Bercaw. “The Tampa Police Department is committed to bringing justice for Joseph and ensuring the safety of all children in our community.”

At around 4 a.m. on June 29, Tampa police officers responded to a 911 call from a home in the 8400 block of N. 15th St. The caller, Arayiah Hudson, reported that her son was unresponsive.

Officers arrived within minutes and performed CPR. The 4-year-old was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Initial reports from Hudson said her son began coughing and having trouble breathing after eating potato chips and drinking water, but the investigation quickly changed when investigators found evidence of a possible history of abuse.

A medical examination of the four-year-old’s body revealed numerous injuries, including bruises, abrasions and internal bleeding. The autopsy revealed that the cause of death was blunt trauma to the head and torso.

Further investigation revealed that Hudson attempted to cover up the abuse by pretending to discipline Joseph and using tinted makeup to cover the bruises around his eyes.

On July 1, shortly before 7:30 p.m., Hudson was arrested at her home and charged with first-degree murder involving aggravated child abuse. She was taken to Orient Road Jail.

Her other children were reunited with their biological fathers, who did not live in the home.

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