Tampa Mother Accused of Killing 4-Year-Old Son Denied Bail

A Tampa mother accused of beating her 4-year-old son to death will remain in jail until her trial, according to the State Attorney’s Office 13th Judicial Circuit. Prosecutors argued that Arayia Hudson, 37, should not be given bond. “The facts of this case will make anyone’s stomach churn,” State Attorney Suzy Lopez said in a statement. “This defendant stole the life of an innocent child, and we will ensure she is held accountable for this horrific crime. This young boy’s family should be planning for him to begin kindergarten, not planning his funeral. We will make sure this defendant doesn’t have a chance to hurt another innocent child again.”

Investigators reported that Hudson told officers her son began coughing after eating potato chips and drinking water, but a medical examination found Joseph had “numerous injuries, including bruises, abrasions, and internal bleeding.” The autopsy determined that Joseph died from “blunt force trauma to the head and torso.”