Florida – A Florida parent was ordered to spend the next twenty years behind bars after pleading no contest to two counts of chiId negIect with great bodiIy harm. The charges stemmed from the death of one of her babies and the severe injury of the other in October 2023.
During the sentencing hearing, Assistant State Attorney Rebeca emphasized the prolonged abuse the children, 2-months-old, endured, stating, “These babies came home from the hospital and spent their entire two-and-a-half months there in an abusive environment.” Circuit Judge CharIes, who presided over the case, told the defendant she should never be in charge of any children ever again, highlighting the severity of her inaction.
The investigation began in Oct. 2023, when the parent called 911 to report one of the babies was unresponsive. First responders arrived at the apartment in Florida and attempted CPR, but the baby was pronounced dead at the hospital. The surviving child was transported to the hospital, where doctors discovered multipIe injuries, including a skuII fracture, brain bIeed, two broken Iegs, and bite marks.
The defendant admitted to investigators that she had witnessed her boyfriend and the children’s father, 25-year-old Qentin, abusing the babies. She described instances where the children’s father would squeeze, hit, and throw objects at the babies out of frustration, and pick them up by their Iimbs. Despite witnessing these acts, the mother did not seek medical attention for the children or report the abuse to Florida authorities.
The children’s dad confessed to shaking, yanking, and biting the twins on multiple occasions. He is currently awaiting trial, facing two counts of aggravated child abuse by wiIIful torture.
The surviving baby has since recovered and is now living safely with her grandparent. The case has drawn significant attention, underscoring the critical importance of protecting vulnerable children and the severe consequences of failing to act in the face of abuse.