Florida Child Injury Lawyer Blog

A Port St. John, Florida woman called the Brevard County, Florida Sheriff’s Office before noon on a recent Saturday morning, after finding an eighteen month old child in a diaper at her front door. According to Deputy Andre Walters, the woman was familiar with the child’s family, and directed police to the home of Sarah R. Petty, where they found a three year old at home alone.

Witnesses said that they had last seen Ms. Petty leaving her home at 8:00 p.m. the previous evening. After a few hours of searching, deputies located Ms. Petty at a friend’s home a few blocks away. According to officers, Ms. Petty was drunk when they found her.

Ms. Petty has been charged with child neglect and has been taken to the Brevard County jail. The two children are now with their father, who was out of town at the time of the incident, and the Florida Department of Children and Families has been notified about the situation. The Sheriff’s investigation into the matter is still ongoing.

Children need to be closely supervised at all times. Leaving two young children alone to go out drinking is a crime, and Ms. Petty will have her day in court to answer to these serious charges. Find out more details of this story at Tots found unattended; mother charged, jailed.

If your child has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, a Florida Child Injury Lawyer can provide guidance, counsel, and when supported by both the law and the facts representation to pursue damages for medical bills (past and future) and related pain and suffering.

Tempe, Arizona resident Elizabeth Johnson was extradited from Florida over the holidays after she failed to appear for a child custody hearing in Phoenix, Arizona. Her child, Gabriel Johnson was not with her at the time, and the child’s whereabouts are still unknown.

Elizabeth reportedly had tried to give the baby up for adoption in the past, turning her son over to a Scottsdale, Arizona couple she met in an airport several months previously. She later took the child back, and recently sent text messages to the child’s father, Logan McQueary, saying that she had killed the child. She now claims that she handed him over to a couple she met in a park in San Anonio, Texas. According to Ms. Johnson’s Grandfather, Bob Johnson, she was desperate to get the child adopted and may have tried to find a willing couple on Craigslist or some other online service. Police still do not know if the child is dead or alive, or if the child is in Texas, Florida or Arizona. Ms. Johnson has been charged with kidnapping, child abuse, and custodial interference. She is refusing to cooperate with authorities.

Find out more about this story at Missing Baby "Persons of Interest" Speak.

Three children, one as young as two years old, escaped undetected from a Grace Community Schools daycare center in Cape Coral Florida. The children crossed a busy street where they were gathered up by concerned onlookers. Moments later a few of the school’s employees came outside to look for the kids. One of the onlookers, Nicholas Nuzzi, called the Cape Coral police department to report the incident. He also made a report to the Florida Department of Children and Families.

The Florida Department of Children and Families has confirmed that it is investigating the complaint, and that this particular incident is one of several charges of abuse and neglect made against Grace Community Schools’ schools and daycare center operators. Because the schools are run under a religious exemption, they are not licensed or inspected by the state. Read more about this daycare at Toddlers escape from Cape Coral daycare.

In Florida, a day care center can operate under a religious exempt status if the day care center is part of a bona fide religious institution. But even religious exempt day care centers have employment screening and background checks as well as other requirements. Parents should the take the time and effort to collect information and speak to the day care owners, day care workers, other parents, and the State regulatory agency about the day care center where they will be leaving their child, whether the daycare is state licensed or not.

If your child has been subject to abuse or neglect while in daycare or elsewhere, please contact our firm for expert advice from experienced child injury lawyers.

The disappearance of two year old Caylee Marie Anthony has been the subject of many headlines since the girl went missing from her home last June. Caylee’s mother, Casey Anthony, has been charged with killing her own child, but Caylee’s grandparents have insisted that the girl was kidnapped by a babysitter. Recently, a plastic bag containing a child’s bones was discovered by an Orange County, Florida utility worker only a few blocks from Caylee’s home, which she shared with her mother and grandparents.

While the identity of the victim has not been confirmed, the bones are strongly believed to be Caylee’s due to their proximity to her home and the fact that no other young children are believed to be missing in Orange County Florida. The bones were not found earlier because the area where they were found was flooded by record summer rains at the time when the massive search for Caylee was underway. DNA tests will confirm whether the bones are Caylee’s in a few days.

Casey Anthony is being held at the Orange County Jail on first degree murder charges and is not eligible for bail. Her trial is set for March. To read more about the discovery and the background of the case, visit Is It Caylee?

Stephen Hilla of El Dorado, New Mexico, picked up his three kids from his ex-wife for a visit last week and never returned. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s department issued a warrant for his arrest soon after. Hilla was picked up several days later in a Florida state park on Key West. He was found after a concerned passer-by called police to report that he had left two dogs unattended in his truck. The ranger was able to identify Mr. Hilla as a fugitive by using the NCIC database. Hilla was arrested and the children were placed in custody. Joanna Hilla, the children’s mother says she has been in agony not knowing where her children were for several days. Hilla will be taken back to New Mexico and will reportedly be charged with child abduction and child endangerment.

While it is natural for parents to miss spending time with their children after they lose custody of them, breaking the law to do so is never the right answer. It is important for parents in Florida and other States to follow the orders of Judges and to go through the legal system to make any changes regarding support, custody and visitation. For more information, see Abducted kids, father found in Florida.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokesman Mike Morrison has announced that the agency has cancelled an Amber Alert put out for a kidnapped girl. Apparently, two young boys decided to play a prank, calling police to report that they had seen a seven-year-old girl snatched right off the street and driven away in a white van.

In response to the false report, authorities put out the Amber Alert, asking citizens to be on the lookout for a white van with two males in the front seat, and a young girl wearing a blue skirt and a pink or purple shirt. Police also expended resources on a massive land and air search for the vehicle and the girl, including going to the homes of 105 registered sex offenders living in the area. Now that the hoax has been uncovered, police have called off the Amber Alert, but have not said if the boys will be charged with a crime for the false report.

An Amber Alert is a system for activating an urgent bulletin across news outlets and highway signs in the case of a child abduction. Since its inception in 2001, the program has helped save 492 children. Incidents like the false report made by these two young boys can threaten the efficacy of the alert program. Hopefully the public will continue to take these alerts seriously and do what they can to aid investigators find missing children. Find out more about the false report of a missing Florida girl at Amber Alert for Missing Florida Girl Based on False Report.

In Florida, child identification kits are being distributed to every kindergarten student as part of the program put in place by the American Football Coaches Association. When a child is abducted or missing, a child identification kit may prove to be very helpful for investigators looking for clues in the search for the missing child. The kits will be distributed to every kindergarten student in public and private school in Florida according to a news story posted at the Tallahassee Democrat Website. Child identification kits make sense because they are either free or inexpensive and require just a few minutes to complete.

In Florida and other States, children continue to be kidnapped and abducted every year. Because of their size, immaturity and at times poor judgment, children are often times easy victims for those intent on abducting and harming children. Gary Belson is a security expert and a teacher who uses his knowledge and experience to teach children about kidnapping and safety. The case of Carlie Brucia is a teaching tool that Belson uses in the classroom to help teach the children about safety. Carlie Brucia was abducted at a car wash. A surveillance video captured the abduction. In the video, a man is showed holding Carlie's arm and leading her away. Belson instructs children on how Carlie may have been able to fight back and get out of this dangerous and ultimate deadly situation. Of course, the best safety measure is to stay out of dangerous situations and to have parental or adult supervision at all times possible. You can read more about this story at Jacksonville, Florida Elementary Students Get Lessons and Instructions Regarding Child Safety.

In Altamonte Springs, Florida, a mother (Brittany Higgs) reported to police that her 3 year old child was kidnapped by a man (Vincent Marchese). Mr. Marchese denies that he kidnapped the child; however, according to a news story reported by the UPI (United Press International), Mr. Marchese fled from the police after being spotted by the police. He crashed his vehicle into a police cruiser, abandoned the child, fled on foot, and then attempted to hide from police.

Mr. Marchese later hid overnight in some bushes in a park in Seminole County, Florida. He was found by a police dog the next morning and arrested. Marchese is an ex-con with felony drug possession and attempted robbery convictions.

Marchese claims that Ms. Higgs never called him to check on her son, or to ask Marchese to return him, saying that he would have brought the boy back if he knew Ms. Higgs was looking for him. He was initially charged with kidnapping, but Altamonte, Florida police have dropped those charges and are now charging him with child neglect along with other charges related to the police chase.

It appears that the police believe Marchese’s story about not kidnapping the child; if he had not run from the police he would still be a free man.

Parents should be extremely careful about their selection of babysitters and caregivers for their children. Whether a child is put in danger by a police chase, an unsupervised bath, hot boiling water in the kitchen, or other situations, it is vital that children are watched by responsible babysitters who focus on the best interest of the child.

Read more about Vincent Marchese’s run from the law at Fla. man abandons toddler, flees on foot.

The Orange County, Florida Sheriff’s Office made ten arrests recently, stemming from an investigation into an internet prostitution ring. The investigation took place over several weeks and included individuals in seven Florida counties. One of the alleged prostitutes arrested was a sixteen-year-old girl. She told police that her pimp was holding her five-month-old baby hostage, and that if she did not return to him with the money, he would keep the baby.

Deputies found the baby some time later with the girl’s alleged pimp, in a car in a parking lot at the Wal-Mart on South Kirkman Road in Orlando, Florida. The baby was unharmed; the pimp was arrested. The child has been turned over to the Florida Department of Children and Families, which will determine if the infant should be returned to its mother.

It is sad enough that this young sixteen-year-old girl has become involved in a life of prostitution. But it is sadder still that her infant child has been mixed up in it as well. Children should be cherished and protected, not used as hostages held for ransom. Clearly this young girl is putting her child in harm's way by associating with alleged criminals. It will be interesting to see how the Florida Department of Children handles this matter and what the future holds for the 16 year old and her child.

Find out more about this story at Baby held hostage in prostitution ring.

Shannon Dedrick, the Florida seven-month-old who was reported missing from her home over a week ago, was found alive recently. The girl was found lying hidden in a small box under the bed of her babysitter / step-aunt, Susan Baker. Shannon appeared to be in good health. According to police, Ms. Baker had asked the child’s mother, Crystina Lynn Mercer, to give her permanent custody of the child, and Ms. Mercer handed the girl over to her.

Police became suspicious of Ms. Baker after learning that she and her husband had been arrested in 2000 in connection with the disappearance of their own three-year-old son over twenty years ago in South Carolina. That case has never been solved. Washington County, Florida Sheriff, Bobby Haddock, says that the women conspired to place the child with Ms. Baker, but they do not believe that Ms. Mercer was aware that Ms. Baker had hidden the child in a box under her bed.

According to the local news station, WLTX, Ms. Mercer has been charged with deserting a child, and Ms. Baker has been charged with aggravated child neglect. Both women have been charged with filing a false missing child report, filing a false report of a crime, interference with child custody, and contributing to the dependency of a child. Ms. Baker’s husband was arrested as well, but he has been released; police have not determined if they will charge him with a crime.

If these women had gone through proper channels to legally change custody of Shannon, all the drama and cost of the prolonged search could have been avoided, and the women would not be facing criminal charges. It is unclear why Ms. Mercer would so easily hand over her child to someone else, and why they would not go through regular channels, but more details will likely come out as the investigation continues.

Find out more about Sannon and her ordeal at Shannon Dedrick case: Police say mother gave girl to babysitter, both women charged.

Pilar Rodgriguez was four years old when she disappeared while in a babysitter’s care over ten years ago. The babysitter, Melissa Cooper, took the child on a two-week vacation, which was approved by the child’s father, Marco Rodriguez. They failed to return the child after the two weeks were over, and Rodriguez notified the police. When questioned, Ms. Cooper initially reported that the child had met with a tragic accident, then later accused her boyfriend, Keith Wilson, of fatally beating the child. Wilson claims to have no knowledge of what became of the girl.

Pilar has never been found, but Southwest Florida Deputies and the Charlotte County, Florida Sheriff’s Office are still looking for clues in her disappearance. Officials recently performed a search that appeared to be aimed at finding the child’s body, calling in NecroSearch International, an organization that helps law enforcement agencies find hidden graves. The search was performed at the former home of Wilson. Charlotte County, Florida Sherriff, Bill Cameron, has stated that he will not close the case until Pilar is found and those responsible for her disappearance are brought to justice.

The tenacity that Sherriff Cameron is showing in this case is commendable. Parents should be very cautious about who they allow to take care of their children. In this case, just knowing and trusting the babysitter may not have been enough, as the vacation she took Pilar on included her boyfriend as well.

You can read more about the search for Pilar at New search for evidence in missing girl cold case.

Ronkeya Holmes travelled to Florida recently to pick up her three-year-old daughter, Masaraha Ross, from the child’s father, a resident of Winter Haven, Florida. The child was staying with the father while Ms. Holmes attended classes at a Savannah technical college. The father, who is not named, has told police that he met Ms. Holmes in a Haines City, Florida Wal-Mart parking lot to turn over the child. Police have not found any evidence or witnesses to confirm the man’s story.

Ms. Holmes’ car has been discovered by investigators, with her luggage and several children's items on the seats. The FBI is involved in the case, and the woman’s family has taken up the search as well, personally coming to Florida to search for clues. The family members say they will not rest until they find out what happened to Ms. Holmes and little Masaraha.

Parents should always be prepared with an action plan in case their child goes missing. They should have critical information such as a recent photo and the child’s height and weight to give to investigators. This is especially important when a family is travelling, as it may be difficult or impossible to retrieve the information from your home when you are far away. In this case it was made even more difficult, as the mother has disappeared along with her child. Luckily Ms. Holmes’ family was able to take a very active role in the case and has provided the necessary information to aid investigators.

Polk County Crime Stoppers is asking for anyone with knowledge about the missing mother and daughter to call 1-800-226-TIPS.

Follow the story at Search continues for missing mother and child.

In May 2009, a Florida baby was found abandoned in a box on the side of the road in Ocala, Florida. The family that has been caring for her since then will soon be able to legally adopt her. Authorities with the Florida Department of Children and Families have still not been able to identify the child’s birth mother. If the mother had taken advantage of Florida’s Safe Haven law, leaving the baby at an emergency room or fire station, she would not be facing criminal charges. Because she left the baby on the side of the road, she could face prosecution on charges of child abandonment. The birth mother could face many years in jail, if caught. It is unfortunate that this Florida mother was notaware of, or chose not to take advantage of the Safe Haven law. If her child had not been found, the baby would have died without any food, shelter, or care out in the elements. It is fortunate that a loving family is standing by to welcome the child into their home.

Find out more about “Box Baby” by reading Baby Found In Box To Be Adopted.

The Washington County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office is reporting that 7-month-old Shannon Dedrick of Chipley, Florida disappeared from her home sometime on Saturday October 31st. Rescue workers have joined forces with local volunteers to search for the girl, starting in the area near her home.

It is sad to report that there are many thousands of children reported missing every day. Some wander away while others are abducted. When a child is missing, it is important for the parents to get photographs and other vital information to the police as soon as possible. Time is of the essence when trying to locate a missing child. In this case, the public has already been informed that Shannon is two feet tall and has brown hair and blue eyes. There is also a photo of her posted at the link, below. This information will hopefully help bring in more leads for the police so they can find Shannon quickly.

Officials have not reported much other information on the circumstances of Shannon’s disappearance to the public yet. The Washington County, Florida Sheriff’s office is urging anyone with information to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST) or the Washington County Sheriff's Office at 850-638-6111.

Find out more about Shannon’s disappearance and the search effort at Infant Shannon Dedrick Missing from Florida Panhandle Home.

Tragically, the national spotlight is shining right near my home town of Jacksonville, Florida. Orange Park, Florida is just one county over and basically is part of the Greater Jacksonville area. Somer Thompson was just 7 years old when she died. A memorial service was recently held to commemorate her short life and, yes, her tragic death. Currently, investigators are fielding calls and leads. In addition, investigators are interviewing and re-interviewing potential witnesses, family members, and any others with information regarding the disappearance and death of the child. Some of the evidence will come from the landfill in Georgia where Somer's lifeless body was found. It will be interesting to see what the investigation will uncover as to the death of this child. Among the questions that come to mind are the following:

What forensic evidence was revealed through the autopsy?
What external marks, bruises, or lacerations were caused pre-mortem or before death?
How did the dumping of the body affect the autopsy?
How much of the garbage will investigators analyze?
Can investigators and technicians pinpoint where the body was picked up by the garbage collectors?
Do the police have any prime suspects at this time?
Do the police have any suspects at all at this time?
Did anyone have a motive to harm this child?
What timeline have the police and investigators pieced together from witness statements and other evidence collected on this matter?

The death of Somer Thompson garnered national attention and press. Hopefully, this attention and press will result in some good by bringing whoever ended the life of this young child to justice. Anybody with information regarding this case should immediately contact the Orange Park (Clay County Sheriff's Office). You can read more about the Somer Thompson's Memorial Service at the Florida Times Union (Jacksonville) Newspaper Website.

Rifqa Bary, a 17-year-old Sri Lankan girl who had been living in Ohio with her parents, ran away from home after converting to Christianity. Mohamed Bary, the girl’s father, reported that the police tracked Rifqa to Pastor Blake Lorenz of the Global Revolution Church in Orlando, Florida. Bary is claiming that the Orlando church is a cult and that Lorenz has brainwashed his daughter. Rifqa has claimed that she feared her parents would kill her for turning her back on Islam.

An Orlando judge ordered the girl into the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families until a hearing could be held. At the hearing, Orlando Judge Daniel Dawson ruled that the proper jurisdiction for the case was Ohio. The case has been complicated by the Bary family’s failure to produce proper immigration documents to prove that Rifqa and the rest of the family are in the country legally. The judge ruled that Rifqa must remain in Florida until the immigration documents are furnished.

Find out more about this story at Runaway Christian convert's dad: Orlando church is a cult, and
Judge: Bary's Immigration Papers Must be Produced.

Somer Renee Thompson of Orange Park Florida was walking home with two siblings when they got into an argument and Somer ran off alone. Her mother notified police when she failed to return home. She was last seen on October 19th, at around 2:45 p.m. Approximately 100 deputies and detectives from the Clay County Sheriff’s office have been sent out in search teams to help find the girl. The St. Johns and Jacksonville Sheriffs’ offices have also sent personnel to the area, and FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement officials are on the scene as well.

Police are concerned by a similar incident that occurred ten days before Somer’s disappearance; two men and a woman in a blue Nissan tried to talk a five-year-old girl into their car. The girl screamed and ran away.

Clay County Sheriff, Rick Beseler is asking residents to be watchful and report anything unusual to the police. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the CCSO non-emergency line at 904-264-6512 or 911.

You can find out more details about the search for Somer at Search Continues For Missing Girl.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office located a 3 year old boy who was found wandering in a Kangaroo Gas Station Parking Lot on the Northside (Jacksonville, Florida) at 2:00 a.m. in the morning. The parents were directed to the gas station after they had called 911. The police and the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) will investigate this incident to determine the reason that the child was wandering in a gas station parking lot without proper supervision.

Fortunately, the child did not suffer any serious personal injuries or untimely or wrongful death. This story does show the importance of supervision. Furthermore, it shows even 3 year olds wander away and are in potential danger without supervision. You can read more about this story at 3 Year Old Boy Found Wandering in Parking Lot in Northside (Jacksonville, Florida).

In Levy County (Williston), Florida, two 1st graders were taken from a Levy County (Williston) playground recently. A man in a red and white pick up truck took the children into his truck, drove 100 yards, and the children got out on the side of the road. The Joyce M. Bullock Elementary School was placed on lock down following the incident according to the Levy County Sheriff's Office. The boys later reported that they did not know the man in the pick up truck. Fortunately, the boys were returned; however, it is quite frightening for the children, parents, and community that this incident took place that similar incidents could take place in the future in Levy County and other counties in Florida. You can read more about this story at Levy County Deputies Seek Man in Pick Up Truck Who Grabbed 1st Graders from School Playground.