Waco police arrested 23-year-old Ledaxjia Montgomery on December 2 after she was implicated in a disturbing social media video showing her allegedly attempting to strangle a 15-month-old toddler using a pacifier holder.
Montgomery faces charges of tampering with evidence and assault-strangulation, both third-degree felonies, and is currently held at the McLennan County Jail with bonds totaling $12,500.
The video, which surfaced online in late November 2024, had been recorded on May 16, 2024. It showed Montgomery obstructing the toddler’s blood circulation and normal breathing. Despite the video being reported to Child Protective Services (CPS) in May, it was not presented during the investigation at that time.
No injuries were found on the children living with Montgomery. After the video went viral, Montgomery deleted her Facebook account but refused to reactivate it when questioned by police.
When the video resurfaced in November 2024, Waco police resumed their investigation, ultimately determining that it was recorded months earlier.
Officers spoke to a member of Montgomery’s household, who confirmed her involvement in the incident. Further investigation revealed that Montgomery was in Waco at the time the video was recorded.
Upon her arrest, Montgomery denied being the person in the video but acknowledged that the woman shown appeared to resemble her. Authorities also questioned Montgomery about scars on the child’s neck, chest, and stomach.
She claimed the younger sibling caused the marks on the stomach and chest, while the scar on the neck resulted from an incident where she stopped the child from running into the street.
In addition to the charges related to the video, Montgomery is also facing an investigation into allegations of child abuse. Another woman, involved in a domestic dispute with Montgomery, claimed that both women had tortured their children.
The investigation revealed that Montgomery had attempted to alter evidence by modifying messages she had sent to the other woman. Police suspect Montgomery tampered with the messages to prevent law enforcement from reading their contents.
