A mother and her live-in partner have been charged for committing a “brutal pattern of child neglect, abuse and torture” on multiple kids, including reportedly forcing one to drink boiling water.
All of this came to light when the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office in Florida investigated a related abuse case. On May 9, Shawn M. Stone, 32, was arrested for hitting a 5-year-old boy with a mop handle. It was the child’s mother, Taylor B. Schaefer, 28, who called 911 to report that she had a feeling that Stone was harming the victim. Even though Schaefer told authorities that she had only recently found out, the evidence revealed that she was aware of Stone’s abuse and neglected to report it.
In addition to video surveillance from inside the home, the investigators also acquired information from victims and witnesses. It was discovered that the 5-year-old had endured numerous injuries, including a fractured skull.
The kid also experienced mistreatment such as being tied up and located in a dog cage and denied of food. Another child was allegedly forced to ingest scalding water and beaten with several household objects, while a third was deprived of proper nutrition and medical care.
Stone’s charges include aggravated child abuse, neglect of a child resulting in great bodily harm, and failure to report child abuse, abandonment, or neglect. He is being held without bond.
Schaefer was arrested in Pasco County late on Sunday night, and the kids were removed from the residence and placed in a safe environment.
Sheriff Mike Chitwood provided a link to a GoFundMe campaign to support the children. He commented, “The torture these kids endured is hard to imagine. The good news is they’re in safe hands now, and their scumbag abusers will have to answer for what they did.”