18-year-old calls 911 before mother allegedly strangles her to death in Tampa
Initially, police arrested 38-year-old Rotesha Silveus for resisting an officer with violence and aggravated battery with great bodily harm. However following her daughter’s death, Silveus counts were upgraded to first-degree murder, police said. She is being housed at the Orient Road Jail. (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office)
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TAMPA, Fla. (CBS12) — A Tampa mother is accused of killing her 18-year-old daughter after a medical examiner said the teen’s injuries were consistent with strangulation.
The Tampa Police Department (TPD) said on May 11,Natavia Sanders called 911 saying she had “just woke up from being passed out” after her mother— later identified as 38-year-oldRotesha Silveus — reportedly strangled her. The call was then disconnected.
As communications personnel worked to reconnect with Natavia, officers were dispatched to the residence on E. 23rd Avenue off N. 19th Street, TPD said.
Police said when officers arrived at the scene, they met with Silveus who initially refused to cooperate. After a briefstruggle, officers were able to detain her and findNatavia — but the teenager was unresponsive.
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Officers at the scene began CPR onNatavia until Tampa Fire Rescue could bring her to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
After two days of fighting for her life, police saidNatavia had died.The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide. During the investigation and interviews with witnesses, it was determined that Natavia had sustained injuries consistent with strangulation, police said.
Initially, police arrested the victim’s mother for resisting an officer with violence and aggravated battery with great bodily harm. However following her daughter’s death, Silveus counts were upgraded to first-degree murder, police said. She is being housed at theOrient Road Jail.
“This is a heartbreaking case,” said Chief Lee Bercaw. “Our deepest condolences go out to all those who knew and loved Natavia. Our detectives’ hard work demonstrates our commitment to ensuring justice is served in this matter.”
‘We got somebody on the floor’: Police find young woman dying after she told 911 her mother attacked her
Alberto LuperonFeb 22nd, 2025, 9:54 am
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Rotesha Silveus (Tampa Police Department).
In harrowing 911 audio, 18-year-old Natavia Sanders told the dispatcher, “I was strangled.” She said her mother did it.
Cops in Tampa, Florida, arrived that day on May 11, 2024, to find the defendant, Rotesha Silveus, 39, trying to keep them out of the house. They forced their way through the doorway, only to find Sanders unresponsive.
‘F—, man, we got somebody on the floor, bro,” an officer said in bodycam footage.
According to cops, Tampa Fire Rescue took Sanders to a nearby hospital in critical condition, but she died two days later.
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After being put in the patrol vehicle, Silveus can be seen handcuffed behind her back, lying prone in the backseat, and her body twitching. Police made her sit up so they could search her. She appeared conscious but was panting and staring.
Authorities redacted what she told police. She is charged with first-degree murder.
“During the investigation that followed, including interviews with witnesses, it was determined that Natavia had sustained injuries consistent with strangulation,” cops have said.
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“This is a heartbreaking case,” Chief Lee Bercaw said at the time. “Our deepest condolences go out to all those who knew and loved Natavia. The hard work of our detectives is a demonstration of our commitment to ensuring justice is served in this matter.”
Silveus was found incompetent for trial but was later “restored to competence,” court records show.
