Shyla Chapman Kills Four-Month Old Daughter Tammy Mae Logan with Lysol
In Visalia, Calif., 19-year-old Shyla Chapman admitted spraying her 4-month-old daughter, Tamme Mae Logan, with Lysol. Shyla was frustrated that the baby was crying, so she doused her with a lethal level of the household cleaning that ultimately caused the baby’s death.
A toxicology report revealed show that Tamme Mae had lethal levels of para cresol - a substance found in household cleaners such as Lysol - in her blood. In fact, the report showed that there were three times the amount that could be considered lethal - much more than woud be found in her blood if mom was a neat freak on a cleaning spree. This and other evidence was strong enough for a judge to order Shyla to stand trial for first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death.
Detectives said that Shyla talked about using Lysol around the baby, even though they hadn’t told her what showed up in the toxicology report. At first, Shyla told police she had cleaned with Lysol around the baby. Then she talked about how her frustrations with the Tamme Mae’s crying led her to grab the Lysol can and spray the child in th face.
Shyla also acknowledged seeking psychiatric help after giving birth and feeling frustrated that no one helped her care for the baby.
During the investigation into Tamme Mae’s death, Shyla’ friends and relatives said she was upset because the baby wouldn’t stop crying and had said that having a baby ruined her life and she wished it was dead. There were also reports that the baby was sick and fussy, but Shalya couldn’t figure out what to do to calm her.
The reports clearly show that this was an at-risk mother who didn’t want or care about her baby. Again, the system - including Shyla’s friends and family - fails when they don’t identify these women and support them with parent training and mental health care or take the baby and put it up for adoption. Instead, we have a young women who’s ruined her life and a dead baby girl. Tragic.
(Thanks to Dena for the tip.)
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37 opinions for Shyla Chapman Kills Four-Month Old Daughter Tammy Mae Logan with Lysol
amylulu
Mar 10, 2007 at 9:31 am
Frustrated that a baby ruined your life and you wish it were dead??? Ever hear of adoption you total waste of flesh? There are too many people out there that go to sleep at night crying because they want a baby so bad and this sorry something doesn’t even appreciate the gift she was given. I was a young mother also, but the gifts that my baby girl brought me far outweighed the sleepless nights and frustrations. I don’t have any sympathy whatsoever because she had options and chose not to use them.
avasophiemomma
Mar 10, 2007 at 2:28 pm
I accidently killed a pet bird with raid…(spraying the outside of the doors and windows for ladybugs..)but intentionally spraying lysol in your kids face…nice. (sarcastic!!!) I won’t even use any chemical cleaning products (oven cleaner, etc.) when my kids are at home! They go to grandmas if I want to do heavy cleaning!
julie
Mar 10, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Does no one mention to girls that babies cry? How is this something they are unprepared for? This has come up in many of these reports–mothers and fathers frustrated that the baby is crying. I have a baby, and I know it can be frustrating and exhausting and make you want to cry yourself. I do know that. On the other hand, I also knew ahead of time that it was going to happen, that babies have no other way to tell you what’s wrong. How are these people not realizing this?
alalee
Mar 11, 2007 at 9:54 am
The crying is not their primary concern. It’s getting some nookie that comes first or wanting a baby for reasons like: 1) All my friends have one so I want one too, 2) Babies are so cute so I can get some attention, 3) I can trap the daddy into a relationship he may not want, 4) I can get some money (child support, welfare, or a combination of the two) so I don’t have to get a job. It’s selfishness in one form or another on the part of these people that leads to the child in the first place, and then they realize they don’t really want the baby or the responsibility that comes with taking care of it that leads to this kind of story. They realize too late that what they’ve done is not in their own best interests but instead of reaching out to programs to get help or giving the baby up for adoption, they do something like this.
EchoedMemory
Mar 11, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Again… this “parent” was under the age of 25.
alalee
Mar 11, 2007 at 3:08 pm
I don’t think age is necessarily the reason for this kind of behavior. I would NEVER have done anything this …. EVIL … at any age. Period. I wouldn’t be at all surpised if she’s one of those girls who decided she wanted a baby just because all of her friends had babies, all the while ignoring the fact that BABIES TAKE WORK.
This is the kind of behavior that reinforces in my heart and mind the belief that a person who would do something like this, to their own flesh and blood, has no business participating in propogation of the species. Once tried and convicted, they should have their parental rights terminated to any and all children and have removed forevermore their ability to reproduce and harm another child.
Call me mean if you will, but until something radical happens, child abuse/neglect/murder will continue. Every day I see more and more stories like this. Maybe it’s my imagination, but it seems like the stories are getting worse in terms of frequency (or at least frequency of being reported) and severity, yet far too many of these people get their children back after they’ve done horrible things to them (if they survive) and go on to have more children and do more and worse things to them. When will we as a society say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?
renee
Mar 11, 2007 at 9:23 pm
everyone that is comming against this lady kiss her ass!!!!! yes it was wrong what she did but she is the one that has to live with her actions. you never truly know what you are going to do untill you are in the same situation. the same!!!! so stop saying how she needs to be dead because it is not going to change anything.
Devon
Mar 11, 2007 at 11:31 pm
Renee, I HAVE been in that situation. So I comforted the baby. I didn’t resort to Lysol.
Bogustoo
Mar 12, 2007 at 4:23 am
Renee, how DARE you! I WAS in her situation. I had a child when I was young. However, *I* did not ABUSE HIM or tell people that I wished he was dead because he ruined my life! No, this “mother” does not need to be dead. She needs to be tortured the way that poor baby was.
Read this article. http://www.fresnobee.com/270/story/33582.html
The baby wouldn’t eat and was crying so she WENT TO SLEEP???? Oh, and the crying baby woke her up twice! Oh, no! How HORRIBLE of that FOUR MONTH OLD! To think that the baby had the NERVE TO CRY!
Death is too good for that “mother”.
Lauren
Mar 12, 2007 at 6:42 am
baby was too much responsibility huh? well how about keeping the legs closed and using birth control? if your old enough to sleep with people you need to be old enough to deal with what may happen….i had a son at 22, young mommy…i am tired ALL THE TIME STILL, he is 2…no i cant party anymore or be irresponsible…boo fucking hooo…he didnt ask to be born, i have to be a mommy now because i chose to have sex…HELLLOOO i dont beat my kid or wish he was dead, hes a little person that needs to be taken care of, at least i can say i am responsible enough to be a good mommy
Heather
Mar 12, 2007 at 7:30 am
This is terrible. I always make my daughter go to another room when I clean or use any kind of products. But, I cannot imagine, deliberately spraying lysol in the baby’s face!? What the hell! And if she didn’t want a kid, she should have been more careful. Anyone with common sense knows that babies cry and they need full attention. And if the baby was fussy or sick, call a damn doctor, that is what they are for!
Melissa
Mar 12, 2007 at 8:06 am
Renee,
You seem to be defending this so called mother. Have you done something to an innocent child that you’re ashamed of? Just curious.
Lisa
Mar 12, 2007 at 9:23 am
As I sit here crying and looking at my two year old blessing just days away from giving birth to my newest bundle of joy, I am heart broken. This poor baby. Looking to the days ahead I know there will be times when I will not get enough sleep to sustain a sane person and I will feel frustraited, mad, and overwhelmed. Like I did two years ago, there will be times when I will have to leave my child crying safely in her bed while I sob in the other room. There are times that every mother thinks “…why did I do this?” It is the most difficult thing I have ever done, but it is no excuse for harming an innocent little angel. No matter how bad it gets, if this woman didn’t have the common sense and human decency to be a responsible “adult” (if you are out having sex you are old enough to deal with all of the consequenses) with this new life than find another solution like abortion or adoption.
Kathy
Mar 12, 2007 at 10:57 am
Renee-
People have children and get frustrated about crying children EVERY single day, yet noone seems to have sprayed their child in the face with lysol except for her. Most parents at one point or another get frustrated by the inconsolable crying of a child. They just walk away, or ask for help from another adult in the house.
Please do us a favor. If you know this “mother” please teach her about birth control. If you are not mature enough to realize that you can no longer put yourself first once a child is born, you should probably just not have sex.
She was lucky to have this child. I hope she does suffer with this for the rest of her life and never knows what the unconidtional love of a child is like. God gave her a gift. AND SHE KILLED HER!!
Francine Piatigorski
Mar 12, 2007 at 11:09 am
Renee, what a ridiculous thing for you to say! This so-called mommy killed her baby cuz she hated that poor baby so much! She only loves herself! If you seem to be defending that fucking bitch, I would defend that baby!
Nat
Mar 12, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Renee,
We all know that if she were dead it wouldn’t change anything, but were not going to kiss HER ass??? Poor baby, I have no sympathy for the “mother” if that’s what she’s being called. Lots of us had babies at a young age yet we know what responsibilities come with the territory of raising a baby and crying is a huge part of it…how can this “thing” look at her baby and decide to spray her in the face with Lysol??? Maybe she should see what that feels like?
Carissa
Mar 12, 2007 at 1:49 pm
I was a mom at 17. Married and in high school. There were many days and nights when I was exhausted, crazy and needed a break. That is what a SUPPORT SYSTEM is for. Thankfully, I had one helluva support system and was able to function as normal as possible under the circumstances. I never wanted to kill my baby or wished she were dead - I just needed to go for a walk, to get out of the house, to go watch a movie - something to remind me I was still sane! I couldn’t begin to imagine how hard my life would have been if I hadn’t had anyone around to help.
Unfortunately, kids will continue having kids - what we (as a society) need to do is to teach them about surrounding themselves with people who can and will help out…This will prevent horrible things like this from happening. Social Services, Friend of the Court, Churches - they all offer ‘mentoring’ and ‘respite’ type services for clients in need. There is ALWAYS someone to turn to. It’s sad that this 19 yr old idiot didn’t reach out to someone before murdering her child.
ricky
Mar 13, 2007 at 9:58 pm
You don’t kill someone unless you want her to be dead. This woman, I can’t call her a mother, should’ve given the baby to someone else to raise. She is a murderer. Babies cry, parents get frustrated. Get over it. This makes me so fucking mad, how can anyone be violent towards a four months old baby? What kind of instincts are working here?
75mike
Mar 14, 2007 at 1:02 am
How old was this “Mother”? 19!!! I have three young daughters and I strongly feel that I must teach them and teach them until I turn blue in the face!! Where were her parents??? What parenting skills did they teach their daughter??? We must teach our children people!!!!!!!!!!! They learn to parent by watching us!!!!!!
Ihavekidstoo
Mar 16, 2007 at 11:38 am
Renee, you clearly empathize with this woman. Is that because you’re also a young, frustrated single mother who feels having a baby was the worst mistake of your life? Get some help before you wind up in prison too and your baby on a coroner’s slab. If you can’t do anything else, give the baby away. Like other posters here have said, there are plenty of people who would gladly take a baby off the hands of an ungrateful potentially murderous so-called “parent.”
Melissa
Mar 16, 2007 at 12:42 pm
That’s exactly what I though when I read Renee’s post.
Cat
Mar 17, 2007 at 10:46 am
Renee, after reading your post full of misspellings, bad grammar, and poor punctuation, I would suggest you return to school and at least achieve the educational level of a fifth-grader before you try your hand at defending a beast like Shyla Chapman. Chapman was upset that “no one helped her care for the baby”? I guess she wasn’t paying attention, but that’s what being a single mother is all about–raising a child completely on your own. Millions of women do it every day and don’t resort to abuse, even though it’s one of the most difficult things anyone could ever do. You prove yourself to be far more troubled by defending this woman than any of us do by attacking her.
alalee
Mar 17, 2007 at 12:01 pm
If stupid people who shouldn’t breed would keep their legs together. . .
A lot of us have been in that situation but haven’t turned to abusing, neglecting, or MURDERING our children. I agree with Cat - this girl shouldn’t be whining no one helped her. She should have sucked it up, accepted responsiblity for the fact that she brought a child into this world rather than killing it.
If it looks like a turd and smells like a turd, it must be a turd. Once again, these are the cases that prove involuntary sterilization needs to be implemented once these sick puppies are tried and convicted.
beenthere
Mar 22, 2007 at 2:38 am
Just because you are a young mother does not mean you are a bad parent….I had two babies by the age of 20 - less than 18 months apart - They are 20 and 18 now - I never layed a hand on either one of them - It takes a sick mind to abuse children - no matter the age of the parents….
Jessica BROWN
Mar 23, 2007 at 11:20 pm
FIRST OF ALL!!!!
I Happen To Be The Sister Of The Guy That Got Shyla Pregnate!!! Clint Logan! Now To Those Who Think That They know everything why dont you sit down and take a Min To Read What i Have To Say Before you go Judegemental Unpon My Sister!!! I Met Shyla When she was About 16 almost 17 Years Old, And one thing i can say is shyla Was Never Abusive She wouldnt even kill a fly! I used to help her take care of her horse when she lived with me and my dad in colinga CA and She was always easy to get along with!! She was on Birth Controll Because she didnt want to have kids!! When she was 17 her mother Died and she began liveing with my family full time!! My Brother..(God Knows I love him) Took her off birth control Because he said she didnt need to be on it anymore! and when she was 18 she got pregnate! Shyla was extatic about haveing the child i had never seen her so happy! But threw the pregnancy she went threw major stress Tamme was the name of my brother clints Mother and they used to fight head to head because well…BLuntly His mother is a B!*$%!!!! And shyla used to come to me crying because of this!! And when Shyla said she had no support, Well i really dont doubt it! Because my brother told me how bad he wanted to leave her but he never did. My brother never cleans He cant hold a job and i think he was out with his friends more then he was home where he should have been helping shyla!! And when the baby wouldnt stop crying, Yea She Lost it..She lost her freaking mind..She didnt know what else to do she didnt want to hurt the baby im sure But she really didnt know what to do! YES there were other options and YES it was messed up what she did…But in the end you cant just blame her for what happend TOTALLY you have to blame the people around her aswel someone could have called CPS but everyone was to careless to see the real situation…A Mother Reaching out for help but in the end had no one else to turn to!!! So Before you Blame her…why dont you take the chance to actually think about what really happend and to really take a look at the story!! If Not Her Friends And Family My BROTHER MY OWN FLESH AND BLOOD..Could have done something to help her!! AND MY FATHER DAVID BROWN the grandfather of this child could have done something as well!! And i really dont blame her even tho the actions she took were hers but i blame My Family!! And Mostly..I Blame myself for not being there!!! Now if you have any comments about what i have said e-mail me at lilskitzobabe_15@hotmail.com Yes My E-mail in Immature but trust me..Its Old!!!
My word has Been Said…Oh yea..and if your going to make a story..why dont you put the whole story down!!
Jessica Brown
Jessica BROWN
Mar 23, 2007 at 11:50 pm
SECOND
People dont need to be talking shit when they dont know what the FUCK there talking about! Thats Immature And i know Immature im 16 years old and i deal with Immatuirty Every Day!! And I Agree With Renee You Dont know Shyla so why the Fuck are you people makeing this your problem for all i can care you guys can kiss my ass…and go ahead talk about my grammar and the way i spell because i really dont fucking care!! and you guys may be typeing this Shit but i would love to see you guys say it to Her Face…So keep your mouth shut unless you relly know whats going on…!!
Bogustoo
Mar 24, 2007 at 8:11 am
Jessica, it’s not about your grammar or the way you spell. Your reaction is immature. The fact is, she killed her baby. Whether it was because she was frustrated or has unresolved mental issues doesn’t matter. She had a choice. She could have called a friend, a family member, Crisis Intervention, SOMEONE to say that she wasn’t coping well. She could have done that even while the baby was crying and she was feeling frustrated. She did not. Instead, she grabbed whatever was close and sprayed it all over her baby.
And stop blaming others. If you felt that she was getting out of control, YOU too could have helped, even at your age. You could have spoken to a counsellor at school to find out who you could call to help her.
The fact remains that Ms. Logan had a choice. She chose poorly.
Brian
Mar 24, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Ok First off I am a close friend to Shyla Chapman and her boyfriend Clint is my Cousin.
This crap going around the Web is a load of S***.
Shyla for one did not spray her baby with lysol since there was none in the home at all since her dad doesnt use Lysol and doesnt allow it in the home.
They F***ing Cops and other people handling her trial are trying to trick her into saying things that are not true. I have checked into it and know that this all is crap.
Thats all I have to say.
Quit posting any more Lies.
kari
Mar 24, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Hey Jess Brown… I believe the word is PREGNANT.
Check your spelling…
Brian
Mar 26, 2007 at 1:41 am
Ok you all that are picking on Jessica’s spelling. Leave her alone. She is a relative of mine. She is trying to prove a point.
Everybody that is related to shyla and clint believe she is innocent. The chemical that is supposed to have been found in the baby is something that I heard is in our body. The baby had had extreme levels of it in her body and the person that did the autopsy reported this and the people involved in taking Shyla to court used this against her. They had also tricked her into pleading guilty and which is all wrong. She did not have any help in court as to what these assholes were putting her up to.
I believe the truth will surely come out at the end and all will be cleared.
But as for putting someone down for bad grammar, that is not right and you should look at your problems. Everyone has problems. So before you go putting someone else down, Look at yourself.
Jessica Brown
Mar 26, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Ok! I Really dont see how i over reacted I think that if it was a family member of your own that you would understand but everone here who has left these comments has probably never been in this situation! And trust me If i had been there i would have done everything i could to help her with the child! But without knowing The family or shyla her self none of you really have any right to critisize her, Although everyone is intitled to there own opinion no one really has the right to judge something they really dont understand or even know about! and as for my spelling and or grammer…That is just a low blow! I may not be a very good speller and i may not put all the periods and commas in the right place doesnt mean im any less of a person then the rest of you. So grow up!! And Brian e-mail me at Jessica_Lorraine_Brown@hotmail.com
Cat
Mar 27, 2007 at 8:44 am
For the record, I posted my particular comment about misspellings and poor grammar before Jessica ever posted any of her various rants. My comments were directed toward Renee, but truth be told, they apply to Jessica as well. And Brian, I do have my own problems, but lack of a proper education isn’t one of them.
If you want people to take you seriously, learn to express yourself well and THINK before you speak or type. That includes using proper grammar and spelling, as well as really reading (and comprehending) what you are responding to. Otherwise, people are very likely to simply dismiss you as being an idiot, even if what you say has merit.
Brian, the scientific evidence presented by law enforcement and the media shows that Shyla killed her baby. However, all of us know there are many, many cases where crooked cops and corrupt prosecutors have railroaded innocent people just to close the case. In the 1980’s, a young mother was wrongly sentenced to death row in Mississippi for that very reason. It took seven years for her to be exonerated and released. So it happens much more than we would like to think. If that is the case with Shyla, then please present her side of the case with all the FACTS you know. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I will certainly listen to what you have to say. Simply saying that the news stories are shit and that the court officers are assholes doesn’t prove anything except the fact that you’re angry–and if she’s innocent, you have every right to be. But for the moment, the evidence simply says she’s guilty of a horrible and heartless crime and that’s why posters on this board are so upset. Show us why the news stories are wrong and you might find more support for your defense of Shyla.
Brian
Apr 17, 2007 at 11:38 pm
Well now my Friend Lonnie who is Shyla’s Brother has now came forward and told the truth since he was there the night this was supposed to happen and so it seems that his statement will clear her of all charges since he saw there was no Lysol or any chemical spray at the residence at the time of this so called spraying was supposed to of happen. Truth at last.
Heather Klimek
Jun 14, 2007 at 1:21 am
This one makes sence “One’s first step in wisdom is to kuesstion everything - and one’s last is to come to terms with everything.”
rockdoll_71
Oct 15, 2007 at 4:51 am
Renee, how could you defend someone who did something so stupid and CRUEL to an innocent baby? Maybe you did something like that to a baby, too? Is that why? Only someone evil and utterly stupid would do something like this. You need to tell your friend about birth control. I don’t know why it doesn’t occur to you young girls to get on FUCKING BIRTH CONTROL before you bring an innocent child into the world, become overwhelmed and then murder it. What you said was just plain dumb. Nobody is going to kiss this stupid bitches ass. She should die for what she did and I think there is something wrong with you for defending garbage like her. What did the baby do wrong? The baby didn’t ask to be here on this screwed up earth and I’m fairly certain didn’t ask for a piece of shit mother like she got. Go to hell, Renee.
olds
Dec 4, 2007 at 9:06 am
well let me start by saying hi.My name is Clint Logan and all of you who can read can see that my name does not have anything in common with mine.my father got married to another woman in the late 80s early 90s.the woman and himself had a child together her name was Jessica Brown..wow now were getting somewere.when i moved to coalinga at the age of 19 to live with my Dad he had just sent Jessica Brown away back to live with her mother after the federal gov.was going to prosecute my Dad for her STEALING peoples mail.So everything was nice then my dad gave her one last chance to live with him after Jessica Brown,told him.My mom just started dating one of my 16 year old friends.When she came back my Dad was very nice and loving to her.But. still she was up to no good.She met a guy on the internet.then she arranged threw my Dads screwed up sister Vivian Brown to get her a plane ticket then she left for good.She had told me about a month prior to this i didnt believe her though.Well the good news is My Dad could care less about her.after all he did for her he is hurt..what a gurl…Hope youre havin fun….stay on the east coast anyone can e mail me with ? please do so
olds
Dec 4, 2007 at 9:07 am
my name has nothing in common with Jessica Brown
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