Woman who killed, buried toddler in shallow grave pleads guilty to 2nd-degree murder

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Rachael Fryer, who killed her 2-year-old daughter and buried her in a shallow grave, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Tuesday.

Tariji Gordon’s body was found in a shallow grave two years ago.

Investigators said Fryer, then 32, admitted she stuffed the girl's body in a suitcase and buried it in Crescent City. The toddler was found behind a vacant home on a dead-end road.

Read: Florida DCF report on the death of Tariji Gordon

Assistant State Attorney Gino Feliciani said the child had bite marks on her shoulder, in addition to other injuries.

Feliciani said the plea deal was an equitable choice by his office. The state said making the deal wasn't an easy decision, but they said it prevented a possible acquittal from an unpredictable jury.

"You know what you're getting. It's a definite result and it does have some closure to the case. There's not going to be an appeal. There's nothing to appeal. She pled guilty. It's done," Feliciani said.

According to an arrest warrant, the little girl stopped breathing on Feb. 6, 2014, and instead of calling 911, Fryer attempted CPR. The arrest warrant said that 30 minutes later, the toddler was dead.

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“After ceasing her efforts to revive Tariji, the mother wrapped the child in a blanket/comforter and placed her in a chair in one of the bedrooms,” a Florida Department of Children and Families report said. “The mother stated she did not attempt to contact Emergency Medical Services or 911.”

Fryer then put the child in a suitcase and called a friend for a ride to Crescent City, the report said.

Photos: Evidence photos in Rachel Fryer case

After taking Gordon out of the suitcase and burying her in a shallow grave behind a vacant home, Fryer slept on the porch until someone arrived to drive her home the next day at about 11 a.m., the report said.

Fryer originally faced charges of aggravated child neglect, homicide, abuse of a child with great bodily harm, tampering with evidence, mishandling human remains, aggravated manslaughter of a child and aggravated child abuse.

She was sentenced to 30 years in prison with credit for 868 days served, and 30 years probation to follow her release.

“We want to make sure that she's not going to have access to kids. That's why we put in the probation that she can't have unsupervised contact with kids," Feliciani said.

Cox Media Group