TAMPA, Fla. (Court TV) — A Florida woman is being held in jail without bond after prosecutors say she killed her girlfriend’s daughter.
Grace Wingate appeared virtually at a hearing on July 20, 2026. (Court TV)
Grace Wingate, 29, had a brief first appearance, during which she stood silent after a grand jury indicted her on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and child neglect with great bodily harm. Wingate appeared virtually in court, standing behind a podium while wearing a green vest.
Judge J. Logan Murphy said he could not address bond because the judge overseeing the indictment had already ordered Wingate held without it.
The Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office said that Wingate was with the 3-year-old at Wingate’s apartment when she beat the child to death. Documents outlining exactly what investigators believe happened have been redacted and are not available for public viewing.
Deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office told WFTS that they began investigating when the child, Ka’mora Figgs, was taken to the emergency room with “several inflicted injuries.” The medical examiner later ruled her death a homicide.
Ka’mora Figgs died after she was brought to the hospital on April 25, 2026. (GoFundMe)
“This is a heartbreaking and disturbing case. A child lost her life at the hands of the person entrusted to protect her,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement announcing the indictment. “We will not tolerate violence against anyone in our community, especially innocent children, and we will work relentlessly with the State Attorney’s Office to ensure she faces the maximum consequences the law allows.”
A GoFundMe created by Ka’mora’s grandmother after the child’s death had collected more than $11,000 after Wingate’s first court appearance.
Wingate is due to return to court for her arraignment, scheduled for July 27.
