Cabrera Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Manslaughter of Her Daughter

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Pamela Cabrera pleaded guilty to Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child and Aggravated Felony Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Causing Death for the death of her 5-year-old daughter. With the plea, Cabrera faces a sentence ranging from 10 to 30 years in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Jonathan Sacks will sentence Cabrera during a hearing to be scheduled the week of March 4, 2024.

On March 31, 2022, officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in north Jacksonville in reference to Cabrera taking her daughter, of whom she did not have custody. An officer observed Cabrera at the intersection of Biscayne Boulevard and Dunn Avenue. When officers began to follow Cabrera, she led them on a chase running every red light from Biscayne Boulevard to Interstate 95 South. Cabrera was driving on the inside shoulder, nearly hitting other vehicles, and attempted to take the exit for 9B West, but at the last second, she went straight toward 9B East. Cabrera failed to negotiate the turn on the ramp and drove into the retention pond. Cabrera escaped the submerged vehicle and held onto a tire to stay afloat. Her daughter was trapped in the front seat of the vehicle. The vehicle sank to the bottom of the pond, and officers were unable to save the child. JSO’s Dive Team recovered the victim’s body.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney John Kalinowski.