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A waitress in Florida who helped an 11-year-old boy escape abuse is hailed as a hero by local law enforcement.
Flavaine Carvalho worked at the Mrs. Potato in Orlando on January 1 when a family sat down at a table. Everyone received food except the child, she told a press conference.
The stepfather, identified as 34-year-old Timothy Wilson II, told her the child would eat at the house, she said. But Carvalho said she noticed the boy had bruises and scratches on his face and arms.
βI could see he had a big scratch between his eyebrows,β Carvalho said. “A few minutes later, I saw a bruise on the side of his eye. So I felt there was something really wrong.”
In an effort to help, she secretly wrote a note to the boy that read, “Do you need help? OK.” He said no at first, she said. Carvalho said the parents couldn’t see the note.
MAN STRANDED IN A LAKE SAVED BY THE FLOATING TIKI BAR OF PRIESTS: “ SIGN OF GOD ”
After another attempt, the boy said yes and she called 911.
He was taken to hospital, where doctors determined he had bruises all around his face and arms and was 20 pounds underweight for his age, authorities said. Police said the boy was subjected to other types of abuse, including being forced to surf for 30 minutes at a time. He would be beaten if he failed, they said.
βIt was ongoing abuse and torture that this child was going through,β Detective Erin Lawler said.
A police spokesperson said the child’s injuries were serious.
“In the opinion of the lead investigator, this child was destined to be killed,” he said.
Wilson was arrested on suspicion of third-degree child abuse. He was arrested a second time on January 6 and charged with several counts of child abuse and neglect.
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The mother of the child, Kristen Swann, 31, admitted to being aware of the alleged abuse, but did not seek medical attention, authorities said. She faces two counts of child neglect.
The boy and the couple’s 4-year-old child has been removed from the home by the Florida Department of Children and Families.
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