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Ex-Wife Defends Tampa Man Charged In Tot's Death

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 7, 2008

Updated: 10/07/2008 03:03 pm

Robert Bradwell

TAMPA - TAMPA Darryl Grant said the girl living next door was adorable.

"She was a fun little girl," he said. "She'd come outside, say 'hi.' She was real full of life."

That girl, 2 1/2-year-old Makaila Thompson, died after an incident Sept. 5 while in the care of her mother's boyfriend, Robert Bradwell.

Bradwell, 36, of Tampa, was charged Monday with first-degree murder of a child.

Grant was shocked to hear the news. Grant said that in his experience, Bradwell had always treated children well.

"I would never think he would do something like that because he loves the kids so much," Grant said.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says that Makaila and her 4-year-old brother were with Bradwell at their home at 14204 N. 20th St., Apt. B, while their mother was at work.

Bradwell had been living with his girlfriend, Monique Thompson, about a year.

About 9:30 p.m., Bradwell took Makaila to University Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, a news release states.

"The defendant stated that the victim fell while in the bathtub with her brother while he was outside drinking beer and smoking marijuana with friends," sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

Doctors saw a bruise on the outside corner of Makaila's left thigh and a mark on the skin to the left of the bruise, Carter said. Makaila's face and forehead were swollen, and she had a bloody nose.

An autopsy Sept. 6 determined Makaila's torso was beaten and that the death was a homicide, Carter said. The girl had tears to a vein the heart and to the heart itself, she said.

Sandra Bradwell said in an interview today that her ex-husband had been in charge of Makaila only briefly Sept. 5 and that the child's injuries must have occurred earlier.

Sandra Bradwell's daughter, 32-year-old Liceasha Wilson, said that despite earlier arrests, Bradwell is good with children and that she had no problems when leaving her 6-year-old daughter alone with him.

His arrests include a misdemeanor domestic battery charge in July against Monique Thompson. Deputies say he struck Thompson's face, causing a swollen jaw and bloody lip. That case is pending, court records show.

He also was found guilty in 1997 and 2002 of misdemeanor domestic battery.

Longtime friend Carla Coonce, who has known Bradwell about 30 years, said Bradwell had a tough childhood that ultimately caused him to get into legal trouble.

Coonce said she could never imagine him hurting a child.

He frequently babysat her children several years ago, and the children got along well with him, she said.

"I would have him today to babysit my kids – without even thinking about it," she said. "He has sort of a child's mind himself."

An example of his type of discipline, she said, is taking away a child's game and hugging the child until he or she calms down.

An arrest warrant was issued Monday for Bradwell. He was arrested at the sheriff's District 1 office.

He is being held without bail.

He declined to comment today.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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