A mother and her boyfriend were arrested after the woman’s 3-year-old daughter was found deceased in a wooded area on Friday, Nov. 10. They are being detained in a Florida jail.
The couple first reported the girl missing, but then, the mother told police what had happened, leading to the charges and arrests.
The newspaper reported that a 5-year-old boy in the woman’s care was reported as suffering from malnutrition and the “bones in all regions of his body exposed.”
Merrell faces three counts of child neglect and a count of aggravated child battery, while Hagwell faces one count of aggravated child abuse.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office noted that additional charges against the pair were likely, The Associated Press reported.
It’s unclear if Merrell or Hagwell have lawyers.
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