A Syracuse, New York mother, Latasha Mott, 29, faces severe legal repercussions following the tragic demise of her five-year-old daughter, Nefertiti Harris, in a case that has deeply affected the local community.
Mott was arraigned in Syracuse City Court on March 25, charged with first-degree manslaughter and concealment of a corpse after the January 6 incident where she allegedly inflicted fatal injuries on Harris by striking her multiple times with a belt while the child was showering in their apartment.
Mott has entered a not-guilty plea to the charges. Initially, there were reports of Mott being detained with bail set at $500,000 cash or a $1 million bond, reflecting the grave nature of the accusations.
The grim discovery of Nefertiti’s remains in a wooded area off Salt Springs Road was the culmination of an intensive search operation by Syracuse police and Onondaga County medical examiners. This operation included the use of drones and thorough ground searches by officers, initiated after concerned family members reported they had not seen or heard from the child for a significant period, sparking a missing person investigation. During police questioning, Mott reportedly admitted to the killing and disclosed the location of her daughter’s body.
The search efforts, hampered by adverse weather conditions, ultimately led to the recovery of the girl’s body on March 26, providing a sorrowful conclusion to the search. The investigation has since unveiled a complex layer of deceit by Mott, who misled her daughter’s former foster mother and biological grandmother about the child’s whereabouts and falsely informed the Syracuse City School District of a supposed school transfer to Georgia.
Adding to the complexity of the case, Corrice Parks, Mott’s boyfriend, turned himself in to authorities and was charged with disposal of a corpse, a class E felony, for his alleged role in hiding Nefertiti’s body after her death. His criminal history includes weapons and drug charges, shedding light on his background.
The Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office and Mott’s attorney, Don Kelly, have offered limited comments due to the ongoing legal process. Kelly stated it is too early to make any assessment of the case, indicating a long legal battle ahead.
This case has not only revealed the alleged actions leading to a young girl’s death but also the involvement of another individual, intensifying the legal and moral scrutiny faced by those connected to the tragic events.