Children Beaten & Kept in Filthy House, Parents Arrested
Children Allegedly Beaten, Kept In House Of Filth POSTED: 4:42 pm EST January 2, 2007 UPDATED: 5:39 pm EST January 2, 2007 FRUITLAND PARK, Fla. -- Fruitland Park police said it's the worst case of child abuse they've ever seen. Charles and Tiffany Beattie were jailed, accused of beating their kids, keeping them in deplorable conditions and failing to properly feed them. Inside the house, officers said, they found disgusting conditions, rotting food and clutter everywhere. But even worse, they said, the children were covered with bruises. A relative, Tuesday, defended the parents, telling Eyewitness News the bruises are just accidents. Police said the home, at 709 South Dixie Avenue, was clearly not fit for children. Investigators reported finding molding food in the sink, clutter and clothes all over the floor and terrible living conditions. Things were so bad, the Department of Children and Families called police and officers were shocked at what they found. "It's probably one of the worst ones I've seen in my career here," said Chief JP Isom, Fruitland Park Police Department. All four of the couple's kids had bruises all over their body, on their face, their arms, their legs and their buttocks. One child was hurt so severely, she had internal bleeding. And, officers said, the kids were so malnourished that one ate seven bowls of cereal when they fed him. Charles and Tiffany Beattie are both accused of child abuse, but Tiffany's brother, William Taylor, said they're good parents and DCF was trying to get the kids to lie. "She was feeding them stuff, saying, 'Oh yeah, daddy hit you? Oh yeah, daddy hit you with a belt.' Just kept feeding her stuff," Taylor said. He also said the bruises were simply caused by accidents. "Just like any kid, you go out and play and get a bruise," Taylor said. But police said that there are distinct markings of a fist or hand all over the children's bodies. "They all had bruising on their body that was not consistent with any falls or accidents," Isom said. Two of the kids happened to be staying with grandparents. They showed signs of prior abuse. http://www.wftv.com/news/10654558/detail.html

Parents Accused Of Child Abuse 3-Year-Old May Need Treatment For Internal Bleeding POSTED: 4:55 pm EST January 2, 2007 UPDATED: 12:03 am EST January 3, 2007 FRUITLAND PARK, Fla. -- The parents of four children with various injuries and bruises were recently arrested on charges of child abuse and jailed in Lake County, according to Fruitland Park police. Police arrested Charles Beattie, 23, and Tiffany Beattie, 24, of Fruitland Park on Dec. 30 while assisting an investigation by the Department of Children and Families. During the investigation, police said they discovered four children, ages 7, 6, 3 and 1, with various injuries and multiple bruises that covered their faces, arms, legs, backs and buttocks. Police said the injuries and bruises occurred at different times and were not consistent with injuires from accidental falls. The children were taken to Shands Hospital in Gainesville for examination, and police said the 3-year-old girl may require treatment for internal bleeding caused from injuries from the abuse. The children are now in the care of the DCF, Local 6 News reported. Watch Local 6 News for more information about this story. http://www.local6.com/news/10654646/detail.html

Tip Leads Police To Alleged Child Abuse POSTED: 6:58 am EST January 3, 2007 UPDATED: 7:57 am EST January 3, 2007 FRUITLAND PARK, Fla. -- An anonymous tip led investigators to what they said was a case of child abuse in Lake County over the weekend. Four children were removed from their home, and their parents are facing charges, WESH 2 News reported. Investigators said they found filthy conditions in the children's bedroom and mold growing in dirty dishes in the kitchen sink. Police said the four children, ranging in age from 1 to 7 years old, had bruises, and doctors examined a 3-year-old girl and discovered internal injuries. "There was mold in the food. The kids hadn't ate. They were very hungry. My female officer, who was on duty, cleaned two bowls for the 1-year-old and 3-year-old. She fixed them some cereal," Fruitland Park Police Chief J.M. Isom Sr. said. Police arrested the parents of the children, who were identified as Charles David Leo Beattie, 23, and Tiffany Renee Beattie, 24. They both face four counts of child abuse. http://www.wesh.com/news/10660033/detail.html

Pair arrested in beatings of 2 children Posted January 3, 2007 FRUITLAND PARK -- A couple is facing charges of child abuse for repeatedly beating two young girls so hard that one of the children suffered internal bleeding, police said Tuesday. An anonymous tip led Fruitland Park officers Saturday to the Dixie Avenue home of Tiffany and Charles Beattie. Investigators said the house was cluttered, with dirty dishes and molding food piled in the sink and on the stove top, according to a police report. The two girls, ages 3 and 1, had visible bruises all over their bodies, including their faces and backsides, the report said. Both girls blamed the "boo boos" on Charles Beattie, whom they called "Daddy," investigators said. "This is the worst case I've seen in a while," Fruitland Park police Chief J.M. Isom said. He added that the 3-year-old was hit hard enough to suffer internal bleeding. When police contacted the girls' grandmother in Summerfield, two other children told investigators that "Mom and Dad both punished them by hitting them with hangers, belts and brooms," according to a report. Officers didn't find visible marks on the two children. The state Department of Children & Families removed all four children Saturday. The case remains under investigation, Isom said Tuesday. Tiffany Beattie, 23, and Charles Beattie, 22, were held late Tuesday at the Lake County Jail, each on $20,000 bail. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/orl-paisley010307,0,3227391.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-lake