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Orlando woman charged in toddler son's death, granted bail

ORLANDO, Fla. — The death certificate of a 2-year-old who was found dead in his home says the child died from blunt force trauma to his stomach.

The child's mother, Victoria L. Toth, 24, was arrested Friday, almost two months after her 2-year-old son died, the Orlando Police Department said.

Police said that on July 18, they were called to a home on Bethune Drive near South Goldwyn Avenue and Orange Center Boulevard in the Washington Shores neighborhood, where they discovered Jayce A. Martin unresponsive in his bedroom.

Investigators said the medical examiner's officer ruled Jayce's death a homicide Friday.

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Toth was arrested on charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child.

Toth appeared before a judge Saturday, who granted her a $50,000 bond.

Jayce's father, Robert Martin, said his son meant the world to him.

"(He) always had a bright smile on his face. He could brighten up a room with his smile, with his laugh. His laugh was so distinct, it was so cute. It was adorable," he said.

It's still unclear how the child died.

"She told me he threw up and suffocated on his throw up in his sleep," said Martin.

Even though police have not said how the child died, Martin doesn't believe Toth's story.

Martin showed Channel 9 reporter Jeff Deal Jayce's death certificate. It shows the cause of death as peritonitis, which is an inflammation of the lining of the abdomen. The certificate also listed "blunt force trauma to the abdomen."

Martin said he still can't believe his son is dead and has a hard time believes Toth could have hurt the child.

"I want them to find out who actually did it and I want them to pay for it. But in my opinion, I don't think she did it," he said.

Martin said he felt Toth was an overprotective mother who would do anything to keep Jayce safe.

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