Orange Park, FL (December 5, 2018) – Orange Park Police arrested a mother and daughter on child abuse and neglect charges after they discovered a 13-year-old boy who was suffering from numerous injuries inflicted by the pair. The young boy was so badly injured that doctors rushed him into emergency surgery immediately. The two women have been identified as mother and daughter, 62-year-old Wanda Cummings and 34-year-old Waniecia Cummings.
The 13-year-old was very malnourished and covered in filth when he arrived in the hospital. He had a variety of injuries that included scars, bruises, gashes, and burn marks. Police counted a total of 55 visible injuries on the child. The two women spoke independently with the police and gave different accounts as to how the child was injured.
Doctors say that the injuries do not match up with the women's accounts but do match up with the information that the young victim gave them. The boy told doctors and police that Wanda put him in a box that was so small that he was unable to move around at all. He often was forced to urinate on himself while locked in the box for days at a time. He was also handcuffed for extended periods of time to a couch and restrained with zip ties for days at a time in a laundry area. Wanda Cummings was arrested previously in 2012 on a child abuse charge. She was never convicted for the at the incident but did complete a diversion program in relation to the charge.
Both women were taken into custody on November 29th and are currently facing charges. All of the children that were living in the home have since been removed.
Orange Park Child Abuse Laws
Every year, a variety of child abuse crimes take place throughout Florida, putting children at serious risk. This abuse happens by parents, caretakers, guardians, teachers, and more. Because the court understands how devastating these crimes can be on a physical and emotional level for a child, they punish these crimes severely with jail time, fines, and more. If you have been accused of one of these serious acts against a child in the Orlando area, you have many options as you move forward with a defense in your case.
If you are being charged with a crime that involves violent acts against a child, you may be feeling scared and confused about what a conviction like this will do to your life. At Musca Law, we have a vast understanding of the criminal system process and would like to put our 150 combined years of criminal law experience to use for you and your case. We will work hand in hand with you, always maintaining open lines of communication so that you are involved in every decision made that involves your case. We will work to ensure that your rights are being protected. Contact us today to find out how we can help and a free case evaluation at (888) 484-5057.