In a social media post, officials with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office (VCSO) said the 6-year-old girl showed up to school Friday with bruises still visible on her face, prompting deputies to respond to the school and investigate.
VCSO officials said the girl had experienced physical abuse that her parents tried to cover up by keeping her out of school for two days. They also said the girl told investigators she was very hungry and doesn't get much to eat.
Deputies confronted and arrested the girl's parents, 29-year-old Jeffrey Morales and 35-year-old Melissa Husk. Morales is charged with child abuse and Husk with child neglect, since deputies said she was aware of the abuse and chose to hide it instead of intervene.
The video also shows the moments the girl draws a picture for the sergeant who responded to the call, handing it to her. VCSO says the sergeant will be keeping the picture in her patrol car.
'You're supposed to protect her' | Bodycam video shows Florida parents arrested for child abuse of 6-year-old girl
The video shows two people, Jeffery Morales and Melissa Husk, being confronted by deputies after they say the girl showed up to school with bruises on her face.
According to the arrest report, the young girl told deputies that she had been slapped 17 times in the face earlier in the week because she was "acting up and destroyed her room." The next morning, Morales allegedly spanked her butt because he "was still upset with her," the report said.
The girl's mom kept her home from school for the next two days because she did not want anyone to raise concerns about the injuries, deputies said in the arrest report.
According to the report, Morales told the girl to tell people that she had fallen and threatened that if she didn't, she would be removed from her home and "never see her mom again."
The couple also allegedly only fed the young girl breakfast one day a week – a single pancake on Tuesdays, according to the report.
The mom told deputies that she left the room during the alleged discipline, but agreed later that it was excessive, the report said. She also told deputies that she did not think or consider contacting law enforcement or DCF.
'You failed': Florida couple arrested after 6-year-old showed up to school hungry, bruised, officials say
A Florida man and woman were arrested at a school in Volusia County on charges of child abuse and neglect after a 6-year-old girl showed up to school with bruising and redness on her face, the report said.
