Florida man, 36, handed MULTIPLE life sentences for torturing his 11-year-old stepson who was rescued by waitress
FLORIDA, ORLANDO: Timothy Lee Wilson,36, a Florida man was handed multiple life sentences for torturing his 11-year-old stepson, who was rescued on new year's day after a waitress secretly showed the boy a sign asking if he needed help.
Wilson was convicted of charges of aggravated child abuse, aggravated child abuse with a weapon, child neglect, and false imprisonment in June and was sentenced to multiple life sentences on Wednesday, August 24. Meanwhile, his wife, the biological mother of the child, Kristen Swann who was aware of the abuse, will face neglect charges. Her sentencing is scheduled for September 16, 2022.
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Timothy Lee Wilson: Florida man found GUILTY of child abuse, thanks to hero waitress
Who is Flavaine Carvalho? Quick-thinking Orlando waitress saves 11-year-old from his abusive parents
What happened on January 1, 2021?
According to DailyMail, the rescue which happened on New Year's Day in 2021 was popular across the country. Wilson and his family were at the Mrs Potato Head restaurant in Orlando, Florida. However, the couple did not order food for the son. Wilson told the waitress Flaviane Carvalho that the boy wouldn't need food and he will eat dinner at home. Meanwhile, Carvalho noticed that the boy had injuries over his face and arms. "I could see he had a big scratch between his eyebrows," she said.
Carvalho said at a press conference in 2021, "A couple of minutes later, I saw a bruise on the side of his eye. So I felt there was something really wrong." She held an initial sign board behind Wilson, but it was out of the boy's view. However, on a second attempt, he nodded yes. "I wrote another sign, asking him if he needs help. And this is when he nodded, yes," Carvalho said. The waitress then spoke to her manager and called the police.
In audio released by police from her phone call to 911, Carvalho stated, "I'm super concerned and I don't know what to do, can you give me some advice? What I can do?" "The boy is with bruises and he's not eating. The others are eating." Later, officers arrived at Mrs Potato and interviewed both parents and child and it was revealed the child was undergoing abuse from his stepfather. When the boy was taken for a medical checkup, he was 20lb underweight and had extensive bruising covering most of his body.
In an interaction with DailyMail, Carvalho stated, "I feel relieved and with a sense of justice gratitude that he got what he deserved, I also feel happy because the best thing is that the boy now lives a healthy life, protected and receiving a lot of love, affection, care, and respect."
According to Clickorlando.com, during the hearing which happened on Friday, August 19, Judge Wayne C Wooten stated, "You have utterly failed, not only in the role of a parent but simply in the role of human being."
Further, he added, "For those reasons, I'm going to impost the sentence that the law allows me to impose, although candidly, in many ways, I feel like it is short of what you thoroughly and richly deserve."
He was convicted under the charges of aggravated child abuse, aggravated child abuse with a weapon, child neglect, and false imprisonment. Wilson, his wife Swann, and Carvalho were present at the court for the hearing.
The charges against his biological mother are kept on hold. Since during a hearing last week a judge accepted a plea deal from Swann, and she will be sentenced on September 16. The boy is currently in the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families, along with his four-year-old sister.
If you or anyone you know suspects child abuse, you are urged to immediately call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential and the hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.