Tyonna Ford
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CANDID ID: FL_23_815
AGE
1   year
STATE
Florida
DATE OF DEATH
12/20/2022
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
On the evening of December 19, 2022, 20-month-old Tyonna Ford was found unresponsive in bed by her mother, Carlida Miller, at their Jacksonville, Florida home. Her parents, Miller (32) and Tyeon Ford (23), rushed her to a local hospital, where she was declared dead on December 20, 2022. The Medical Examiner determined the cause of death was acute fentanyl intoxication. The child also had bruising on her forehead between the eyes in a pattern resembling the back grip of a handgun, which investigators said indicated foul play. Ford had admitted to having drugs in the house and keeping them within reach of children. After the child was declared dead, both parents left the hospital, returned home, cleaned up evidence, and disposed of drugs and a firearm at Ford's uncle's residence. Ford was convicted of aggravated manslaughter of a child and sentenced to 10 years in prison; Miller was found guilty of child neglect and sentenced to two years of probation.
Contexts/Conditions

Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?

All three documents explicitly state the 20-month-old child died from fentanyl overdose/intoxication. Document 3 (First Coast News) states: "The Medical Examiner's Office determined that the cause of the child's death was acute fentanyl intoxication." Document 2 (Action News JAX) reports: "Ford admitted to having drugs in the house and keeping them within reach of children."

Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?

Is there any mention of a firearm incident?

Document 3 (First Coast News) describes bruising on the child's forehead that "looked like the back grip of a handgun" and "indicated foul play." A firearm matching the model owned by Miller was later found in a trashcan at Ford's uncle's house. While the child was not shot, the bruising pattern suggests the child may have been struck with a handgun, making this a firearm-related incident in a broader sense.

Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?

Document 2 (Action News JAX) explicitly states: "Ford admitted to having drugs in the house and keeping them within reach of children." A 20-month-old child having access to fentanyl — a substance that can kill in minute quantities — constitutes inappropriate supervision. Document 3 (First Coast News) adds that "Miller and Ford failed to show a lack of ordinary care and caution, which caused Tyonna's death."

Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)

Document 3 (First Coast News) states: "Tyonna was also hurt on her forehead, with bruising between the eyes that was part of a unique pattern, the incident report said. The report says the pattern indicated foul play and looked like the back grip of a handgun." This description strongly implies the child was struck with a handgun, constituting an inflicted injury, though the text describes the bruising pattern rather than explicitly stating someone struck the child.

Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?

Is there any mention of medical neglect?

Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?

Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?

Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?

Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?

Is there any mention of sexual abuse?

Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?

Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?

Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?

Individuals Involved

Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?

Was a biological father involved in the death?

Document 2 (Action News JAX) confirms: "Miller's arrest report confirmed that she and Ford are the victim's parents." Document 3 (First Coast News) identifies Ford as "The father" and specifically notes "Tyonna is the only child she shares with Ford." Ford was convicted of aggravated manslaughter of a child and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

Document 2 (Action News JAX) confirms: "Miller's arrest report confirmed that she and Ford are the victim's parents." Document 3 (First Coast News) identifies Miller as "The mother" and notes she was found guilty of child neglect. She admitted to cleaning up the home after the child's death, which the report describes as "unusual."

Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?

Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?

Was a foster parent involved in the death?

Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?

Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)

Was a sibling involved in the death?

Child Characteristics

Was the child adopted?

Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?

Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?

Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?

Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)

Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)

Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?

Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?

Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?

Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?

Parent/Caregiver Factors

Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?

Both parents were arrested and charged. Document 2 (Action News JAX) states: "Tyeon Ford, 23, was arrested March 5" and "Carlida Miller, 32, was arrested on Feb. 27. Both suspects are charged with manslaughter and evidence tampering." Document 3 (First Coast News) reports the sentencing: Ford was sentenced to 10 years for aggravated manslaughter of a child, and Miller was found guilty of child neglect and sentenced to two years of probation.

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?

Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?

Document 1 (News4JAX) states: "New4JAX combed through Duval County court records that revealed that in 2021, Ford pleaded guilty to cocaine possession, and adjudication was withheld." This cocaine possession guilty plea from 2021 predates the child's death in December 2022 and is separate from the charges arising from this incident.

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Document 2 (Action News JAX) states: "Ford admitted to having drugs in the house and keeping them within reach of children." Document 1 (News4JAX) reports that "in 2021, Ford pleaded guilty to cocaine possession." Document 3 (First Coast News) notes that deputies found "drugs and a firearm" in a trashcan at Ford's uncle's residence, after the parents disposed of evidence following the child's death.

Notable Details

Several notable details not fully captured by other questions: (1) Document 3 (First Coast News) reports that the child had "bruising between the eyes that was part of a unique pattern" that "indicated foul play and looked like the back grip of a handgun," suggesting additional physical harm beyond the fentanyl intoxication that caused death. (2) After the child was declared dead, both parents prioritized destroying evidence over cooperating with investigators — they returned home, cleaned up, and disposed of drugs and a firearm in a trashcan at Ford's uncle's residence. This evidence tampering was a separate charged offense. (3) Miller had five children total, raising questions about the welfare of the other four children in the household where drugs were kept within reach of children.

Lives Cut Short