Four Arrested After 9 Abused Children Found In Florida Home With Cage, Authorities Say

Four adults were arrested aft being accused of abusing 9 children successful their Florida location by caging them pinch plywood nether a bunk furniture and spraying them successful nan look pinch vinegar arsenic a shape of punishment, authorities said Friday.

Husband and woman Brian and Jill Griffeth, on pinch 21-year-old Dallin and 19-year-old Liberty Griffeth, were arrested and charged pinch aggravated kid abuse, nan Columbia County Sheriff’s Office said successful a statement Friday.

The 4 adults are suspected of abusing 5 biologic and 4 adopted children — ages 7 to 16 — astatine their location successful Fort White, Florida, astir 35 miles northwest of Gainesville, nan sheriff’s agency said.

The suspects are accused of beating nan children pinch a cane, locking them successful their bedrooms and giving them nonprescribed medication, according to nan sheriff’s office.

The children had besides been instructed to dishonesty astir what was happening successful their location and were not taken to aliases provided pinch capable schooling to publication aliases write, nan sheriff’s agency said.

All 9 of nan children person been court-ordered to beryllium removed from nan home, authorities added.

The investigation into nan Griffeths began erstwhile a mandatory newsman astatine their section church, nan Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints successful Branford, Florida, raised concerns astir nan children, according to nan statement. A “mandatory reporter” is simply a master who is legally required to study suspected cases of kid maltreatment aliases neglect.

While astatine religion campy a fewer days anterior to nan arrests, 1 of nan children was caught pinch a functioning physics stun gun, nan sheriff’s agency said.

The sheriff’s agency added that investigators believed nan adopted children were “being treated unfairly compared to nan Griffeth biologic children, successful summation to nan children not knowing their afloat sanction aliases their ain birthdays.”

When Department of Children and Families investigators interviewed nan family successful their home, “it was noted that nan adopted children were moving connected chores, while nan biologic children were playing aliases watching TV,” according to nan statement.

Bond for each of nan adults was group astatine $500,000 each.

The Griffeths could beryllium instantly reached for comment. It is not clear if they person obtained ineligible representation.