Florida couple handcuffed boy and kept him locked in closet for 16 hours a day since Christmas as punishment
Florida authorities have revealed how a couple is facing charges after they confessed to detectives they had been handcuffing a young boy and keeping him locked in a closet for around 16 hours a day as punishment since Christmas. Police took 41-year-old John Hernandez and 37-year-old Natasha Dabbs into custody Sunday, Newsweek reported. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said in a press release that deputies responded to a home in Tampa earlier that Sunday to probe reports of a missing child. They located the boy at the residence and cleared the call.
However, deputies later returned to the home to conduct an investigation into potential child abuse. Speaking to authorities, the boy reportedly revealed that he had been handcuffed and forced to stand in a closet as punishment. He further claimed he was locked inside for about 16 hours a day for the past couple of weeks. Hernandez admitted to handcuffing the child and placing him in the closet from 5 am until 9 pm as a punishment for behavioral issues, per the sheriff's office. The relationship of the child with the couple is yet to be revealed. Meanwhile, Dabbs told police she knew the punishment was taking place but did nothing to stop it. She further revealed how it had been happening since Christmas Day last year.
Hernandez and Dabbs were subsequently arrested and booked into the Orient Road Jail. According to online records, the former is charged with aggravated child abuse (malicious punishment), and his bond was set at $25,000. Meanwhile, his partner is charged with child neglect and failure to report child abuse. Dabby is remanded in custody on a $10,000 bond. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister applauded the deputies for their vigilance during the initial call. In a statement, he said their actions may have saved the youngster's life. "The actions of this couple are reprehensible," he said. "I am so proud of our deputies for noticing something was not right while they were at the initial call and following through. Their actions may have saved this young boy's life."
The investigation continues.
In November, MEAWW reported how an Ohio couple was jailed after they allegedly tortured, starved, and restrained two minor children for several months.
Priscilla Meachem, 31, and Elijah Walt, 38, were arrested on October 21 for allegedly abusing a 10-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy since April of this year. According to the Times Recorder, the pair used zip ties, electrical cords, and duct tape to restrain the kids in their home on Adair Avenue. Meachem and Walt also did not give them food and ate in front of them instead. Police said the suspected child abusers shaved the children’s heads and threatened them that they would die a horrible death. The girl was allegedly gagged with socks while the boy endured assault at the hands of Meachem and Walt, who used a cane, a wood 2-by-4, and a guitar. They also allegedly tortured the boy’s genitals. Both the accused are facing nine counts of felony assault charges along with second-degree felonies, six counts of kidnapping, first-degree felonies, and seven counts of child endangering, second-degree felonies. During an arraignment, the pair pled not guilty to all charges. However, if found guilty, Meachem and Walt face 194 years in prison.