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Four adults accused of abusing nine minors in their home in Fort White, Florida, have been arrested.
According to a report on Friday by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, the defendants kept the children locked in a cage made of plywood under a bunk bed and sprayed their faces with vinegar as punishment.
It involved the marriage of Brian and Jill Griffeth, along with their children, 21-year-old Dallin and 19-year-old Liberty Griffeth, who were accused of aggravated child abuse.
Of the victims, five were the biological children of the couple and four were adopted, aged between 7 and 16 years.
The accused systematically beat the minors with a baton, locked them in their rooms, and gave them prescription medications without a prescription.
They had also instructed the children, who were not sent to school, to lie about what was happening in their home.
The nine children were removed from the home, and the bail for each of the accused amounts to $500,000.
The investigation began after a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Branford, Florida, where the family attended, reported them.
It was a mandatory reporter, a professional who is legally required to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect.
One of the children was found with a functioning electronic stun gun while at a church camp.
It was later discovered that the adopted children, who did not know their full names or birth dates, were being treated unfairly compared to the biological children of the Griffeths.
The adopted children worked on household chores, while the biological children played or watched television, researchers from the Department of Children and Families discovered.
In May of last year, a mother was arrested in Miami-Dade County for alleged child abuse after biting her eight-year-old daughter, while she was out on bail for a previous charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
On April 10th, a two-year-old girl was rescued in South Beach after being found naked, crying, and cold in her apartment, while her parents were suffering a drug overdose. The Florida Department of Children and Families warned that the child could have died had it not been for the quick police intervention.
In another case that caused great outrage in the community, Orlando Hernández, 29 years old, was arrested in March for torturing his four-year-old son, who he allegedly tied up, strangled, and locked in a closet. The child recounted the abuses using a doll to recreate what had happened. Hernández remains in custody without bail, charged with aggravated child abuse.
Frequently Asked Questions about Child Abuse in Florida
What happened to the children in the house in Fort White, Florida?
Four adults were arrested for abusing nine children in Fort White, Florida. The minors were kept in inhumane conditions, locked in a cage and suffering cruel punishments such as being sprayed with vinegar. Five of the children were the biological children of the accused couple, while four were adopted.
What was the role of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in this case?
A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the one who reported the abuse, which initiated the investigation. The whistleblower was a professional legally required to report suspected cases of child abuse, leading to the discovery and arrest of the accused.
What differences were found between biological children and adopted children in the case of child abuse in Fort White?
Adopted children suffered a more unfair and severe treatment compared to the biological children of the accused couple. While the adopted children were forced to do household chores, the biological children played or watched television. Moreover, the adopted children did not know their full names or dates of birth.
How does child abuse affect the community in Florida?
Child abuse is generating increasing social alarm in Florida, fueled by multiple recent cases of child maltreatment and neglect. These incidents have shaken local communities and prompted decisive actions from authorities to protect minors and punish those responsible.
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