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Child's drawing helps expose alleged abuse, deputies say
A 6-year-old girl’s drawing is now part of a child abuse investigation that led to the arrest of both of her parents in Volusia County, according to the sheriff’s office.
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. - Editor's note: The details in this story have to deal with allegations of child abuse and neglect, which may be disturbing and difficult to read. If you or someone you know needs help, call 911 or the Florida Child Abuse Hotline at 800-96-2873 (800-96-ABUSE).
A Florida man and woman were arrested at a school in Volusia County on charges of child abuse and neglect after a 6-year-old girl showed up to school with bruising and redness on her face, the report said.
Officials noticed the bruising and swelling and contacted authorities.
Jeffrey Morales, 29, has been arrested under suspicion of child abuse and 35-year-old Melissa Husk, the girl's mom, has been arrested under suspicion of child neglect. Both are accused of trying to cover up the girl's injuries.
According to the arrest report, the young girl told deputies that she had been slapped 17 times in the face earlier in the week because she was "acting up and destroyed her room." The next morning, Morales allegedly spanked her butt because he "was still upset with her," the report said.
The girl's mom kept her home from school for the next two days because she did not want anyone to raise concerns about the injuries, deputies said in the arrest report.
According to the report, Morales told the girl to tell people that she had fallen and threatened that if she didn't, she would be removed from her home and "never see her mom again."
The couple also allegedly only fed the young girl breakfast one day a week – a single pancake on Tuesdays, according to the report.
The other side:
Morales declined to talk to deputies about the allegations.
The mom told deputies that she left the room during the alleged discipline, but agreed later that it was excessive, the report said. She also told deputies that she did not think or consider contacting law enforcement or DCF.
VSO posted deputy bodycam videos of the arrests of both Morales and Husk. You can watch that video below.
VSO also shared a drawing that the girl gave to one of the deputies.
"That's a keeper," VSO said.
The Source: The Volusia Sheriff's Office posted the couple's arrest on its Facebook page, including the bodycam video clips. VSO also shared a photo of the drawing in a later report. Additional details were pulled from the arrest report filed with the Volusia County Clerk of Court.