Leon County, FL – November 23, 2020 – Tallahassee Reports- Leon County Commission Outlines Next Steps for Children’s Services Council Earlier this month, Leon County voters approved the creation of a Children’s Services Council.
Palm Beach County, FL – November 13, 2020 – The Sun-Sentinel- A mom will explain how her 7-pound girl starved to death. The dad faces the death penalty. By all appearances that night in the emergency room, Tayla Aleman never had a chance.
Sarasota County, FL – November 12, 2020 – 10 Tampa Bay- Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office employee accused of sexually abusing a child A Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office employee was arrested Wednesday and charged with sexual battery of a person under 18.
Flagler County, FL – November 11, 2020 – WESH 2- DCF worker accused keeping abuse of child from law enforcement A Florida Department of Children and Families worker was arrested after the abuse of a child was allegedly kept from law enforcement for weeks.
Tallahassee, FL – November 1, 2020 – WFSU- Florida’s Foster Care System Woes Spark Furious Debate On Fixes A critical newspaper story has roiled Florida’s child welfare system. Lawmakers and advocates are concerned.
Kendall, FL – October 29, 2020 – The Miami Herald- Miami mom accused of drowning autistic son in canal faces death penalty after indictment Patricia Ripley, the West Kendall mother accused of murdering her 9-year-old autistic son by pushing him into a canal, now faces the death penalty.
New York, NY – October 27, 2020 – NBC News- NXIVM sex cult leader Keith Raniere sentenced to 120 years in prison The shadowy group that operated near Albany, New York, has been the subject of the HBO docuseries “The Vow.”
Tallahassee, FL – October 27, 2020 – Florida Trend- Attorney General Moody and FLHSMV Launch Highway Heroes Campaign to Stop Human Trafficking on Florida Roadways Attorney General Ashley Moody and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles today launched a campaign aimed at enlisting half a million commercial truck drivers in the fight to end human trafficking.
New York, NY – October 27, 2020 – The New York Times- Sex Cult Leader, Facing Life Sentence, Regrets Nothing Several victims are expected to testify when Keith Raniere, the founder of Nxivm, is sentenced this week for sex trafficking, extortion and other crimes.
Boca Raton, FL – October 26, 2020 – NBC News- Inside the surveillance software tracking child porn offenders across the globe In December 2016, law enforcement agents seized computers and hard drives from the home of Tay Christopher Cooper, a retired high school history teacher, in Carlsbad, California. On the devices, digital forensic experts found more than 11,600 photos and videos depicting child sexual abuse, according to court documents.
Miami Gardens, FL – October 26, 2020 – Local 10 News- Popular track-and-field youth coach arrested on alleged sexual battery A popular Miami Gardens youth track-and-field coach was arrested Sunday on allegations of sexual battery pertaining to a former teenaged female athlete, according to an arrest warrant.
Daytona Beach, FL – October 25, 2020 – The Daytona Beach News-Journal- USA Today investigation shows that protecting children must be a top priority Florida lawmakers have a bad habit of trying to solve social problems on the cheap. When it comes to the child welfare system, the results have been disastrous.
Miami, FL – October 16, 2020 – WSVN 7 News- Special education teacher at Auburndale Elementary School arrested, fired after child abuse accusations A special education teacher at Auburndale Elementary School has been arrested and fired after some alarming allegations.
Miami, FL – October 16, 2020 – The Daily Business Review- A Warning to Schools: Miami-Dade Child’s Lawsuit Alleges Sex Harassment by Classmates A lawsuit that alleges a middle school student was sexually assaulted by classmates because the School Board of Miami-Dade County ignored repeated reports of harassment could serve as a lesson to all schools on liability under federal civil rights law Title IX.
Broward County, FL – October 12, 2020 – The Sun-Sentinel- These 19- and 21-year-old women trafficked girls for sex, prosecutors say Two young women posted nude photos of underage girls on websites in order to sell the children for sex, and rented Airbnbs almost a dozen times so that clients and victims could meet, prosecutors say.
Tallahassee, FL – October 6, 2020 – Florida Politics- 2020 Human Trafficking Summit kicks off virtually with thousands in attendance Attorney General Ashley Moody on Monday delivered her opening remarks at the 2020 Human Trafficking Summit, which is being held virtually for the first time in the event’s history.
Orlando, FL – September 4, 2020 – Fox35- Orlando couple arrested after videos posted on social media prompt child abuse investigation A couple faces charges in a child abuse investigation stemming from a social media post.
Panama City Beach, FL – September 28, 2020 – The Dothan Eagle- Panama City Beach man accused of sex crime A 20-year-old Panama City Beach man was arrested last Friday, accused of bringing a minor from California to Bay County for the purposes of having sex, according to a press release from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
Tallahassee, FL – September 24, 2020 – The Miami Herald- State Supreme Court rules against Parkland families on Broward Schools’ liability The Florida Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday that state law places a $300,000 limit on how much the Broward County School Board can be forced to pay to families and victims in lawsuits filed after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Miami Springs, FL – September 18, 2020 – WPLG Local 10- City shuts down Miami Springs hotel over drugs, human trafficking Police and prosecutors said they’ve had enough of a Miami Springs hotel that they have determined is a hot bed for criminal activity.
Miami, FL – September 11, 2020 – University of Miami News@TheU- Lauren Book uses her personal power to prevent sexual abuse From victim to thriving survivor, the Florida senator and alumna educates, protects, and helps children heal.
Buffalo, NY – September 16, 2020 – Genesee Sun- Grand Jury Indicts Buffalo Man For Brutally Beating, Raping, and Sex Trafficking Four Victims U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Michael McDonald, a/k/a George Jackson, a/k/a Rabbit, 41, of Buffalo, NY, with four counts of sex trafficking.
Arkansas – September 3, 2020 – Fox 16 News- A CLOSER LOOK: Former Fort Smith Boy Scout files sexual abuse lawsuit Nude photos and oral sex are just some of the improprieties a former Boy Scout said happened between the years of 1999 and 2001 by a Troop 16 Assistant Scoutmaster in Fort Smith, according to a federal court document filed Monday, August 31, 2020.
New York, NY – September 1, 2020 – AP News- Boy Scouts launch ads on how abuse victims can seek money Under the supervision of a bankruptcy judge, the Boy Scouts of America has launched a nationwide advertising campaign to notify victims of decades-old sex abuse by Scout leaders that they have until Nov. 16 to seek compensation from a proposed fund.
Orange County, FL – September 3, 2020 – Orlando Sentinel- Couple arrested after videos of child abuse surfaced on Facebook, deputies say An Orange County husband and wife face felony charges after videos surfaced on social media that showed them abusing a child, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Orange County, FL – September 3, 2020 – WKMG News 6- Facebook video showing child abuse leads to Orange County couple’s arrest An Orange County couple was arrested after multiple people reported a video posted to Facebook that showed a young girl being slapped and forced to sleep outside without clothing, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Lake City, FL – September 2, 2020 – First Coast News- Lake City couple charged after baby dies, toddler tests positive for drugs A Lake City couple is facing charges after their three-month-old baby died and another toddler tested positive for drugs, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
Georgia – August 29, 2020 – CNN- US Marshals find 39 missing children in Georgia during ‘Operation Not Forgotten’ Authorities have found 39 missing children in Georgia during a two-week effort to rescue endangered minors.
Tampa, FL – August 28, 2020 – The Tampa Bay Times- Siblings in foster care should be kept together, Florida says – except when it argues the opposite Longing to be someone’s “mom” and “dad,” the North Carolina couple spent four years on an adoption waiting list.
West Palm Beach, FL – August 7, 2020 – WFLX Fox 29- What are the laws about leaving your children home alone? There’s a difficult conversation in the air these days. Many kids will start school virtually, so they’ll be home, and many parents will be at work. Many parents are worried about what a virtual start means for their jobs and their children’s safety.
National – August 5, 2020 – NBC News- Daisy Coleman, subject of Netflix documentary ‘Audrie & Daisy,’ dies by suicide at 23 Daisy Coleman, one of the subjects of the 2016 Netflix documentary “Audrie & Daisy,” died by suicide on Tuesday, according to her mother, Melinda.
Miami, FL – July 26, 2020 – The Miami Herald- ‘I feel left behind.’ How people with disabilities are coping with the pandemic Giovana Izzo hasn’t seen her son, Antonio, since March.
Brevard County, FL – July 22, 2020 – WFTV News 9- State to pay for burial of 6-month-old baby who died in temporary foster care in Brevard County A 6-month-old baby boy in Brevard County who died more than four months ago in the care of the Department of Children and Families will finally be laid to rest.
Homestead, FL – July 15, 2020 – The Miami Herald- Sex abuse claims revealed at Homestead shelter, where staff was not vetted for child abuse The now-shuttered Homestead detention center for migrant children in Miami-Dade had four child sex-abuse claims that resulted in the firing of one employee and the resignation of two others, according to newly released documents.
Boca Raton, FL – July 3, 2020 – The Palm Beach Post- DCF: Toddler drowned in Boca pool A 21-month-old drowned last month in a Boca Raton pool, newly released documents from the Florida Department of Children and Families show.
Miami Gardens, FL – June 18, 2020 – Miami Herald- 18 test positive for COVID-19 at His House, Florida’s largest foster group home Eleven children and seven staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 in Florida’s largest group home for foster children, the facility’s executive director confirmed to the Miami Herald.
West Palm Beach, FL – May 6, 2020 – CBS 12- Caregivers charged with child abuse of mute, blind quadriplegic girl A man and a woman face aggravated child abuse charges in connection to a mute and blind quadriplegic girl being left unsupervised at a hospital in West Palm Beach.
Sarasota, FL – April 26, 2020 – Sarasota Herald-Tribune- Coronavirus Florida: With schools closed, child abuse reporting declines As students are isolated from the school employees who normally alert authorities of potential abuse or neglect, calls to the state reporting hotline have dropped.
New York, NY – April 23, 2020 – NBC New York – Online Sex Predators Are Targeting Kids During Online Learning, FBI Warns Sex predators are increasingly trying to exploit kids online with so many school children home doing online learning amid the coronavirus crisis, according to the FBI, as agents report a growing number of complaints from parents.
Miami, FL – April 20, 2020 – Miami New Times – During Lockdown, Child Abuse in Miami Could Escalate On a normal day at Kristi House, the phones don’t stop ringing for long.
Tallahassee, FL – April 11, 2020 – CBS 4 Miami – DCF Workers Test Positive For COVID-19, Others Exposed Nine workers with the state Department of Children and Families have tested positive for COVID-19, and 16 others are self-isolating after being exposed to the novel coronavirus, officials confirmed.
National – March 23, 2020 – USA Today- Children more at risk for abuse and neglect amid coronavirus pandemic, experts say Hundreds of thousands of vulnerable U.S. children could face a heightened risk of abuse and neglect as coronavirus-related school closures keep them at home and away from the nation’s biggest group of hotline tipsters: educators.
Tampa Bay, FL – March 10, 2020 – The Tampa Bay Times- Foster care bill increases accountability but still leaves Tampa Bay area short Foster care agencies could face financial penalties for performing badly and lose state contracts for repeated failures under a new law championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and first lady Casey DeSantis.
Melbourne, FL – March 10, 2020 – News Break- 2 employees at behavioral facility accused in Brevard County child abuse case An employee at a behavioral health center in Brevard County is accused of repeatedly hitting a student while three other employees watched.
National – February 18, 2020 – CNN- Boy Scouts of America files for bankruptcy. Hundreds of sexual abuse lawsuits are now on hold The Boy Scouts of America has filed for bankruptcy, according to a court document filed in Delaware bankruptcy court early Tuesday.
Naples, FL – February 10, 2020 – Sun-Sentinel- Lawsuit claims Florida hotels didn’t stop sex trafficking Two Florida women who were victims of sex trafficking have sued almost two dozen hotels where they were forced to have sex, claiming the businesses did nothing to stop the illegal activity.
Jacksonville, FL – February 4, 2020 – Action News Jax- Kid Care Report: Jacksonville day care tagged with violations by DCF A local day care was tagged with two serious violations after a routine visit from the Department of Children and Families. In this week’s Kid Care Report, Action News Jax anchor Letisha Bereola went to the center and asked for a response from the director.
Miami, FL – January 30, 2020 – NBC 6 South Florida- Human Trafficking Victim Shares Story of Survival NBC 6’s Arlene Borenstein has the intimate story and how this woman is hoping to save the next generation from being victims.
Miami, FL – January 28, 2020 – The Center Square- Super Bowl first test of Florida’s new defense against human trafficking The influx of an estimated 200,000 visitors this week to South Florida also will test state agencies and local governments in their implementation of a new human-trafficking law.
Panhandle, FL – January 15, 2020 – NBC News- Florida 14-year-old girl set up camera to prove physical abuse A Florida teen set up hidden cameras in her home to prove her claims of physical abuse, officials said.
Lake Worth, FL – December 30, 2019 – The Palm Beach Post- Lake Worth Beach parents arrested after 10-month-old overdoses Authorities arrested a 10-month-old girl’s parents last week after she nearly died from an overdose, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office arrest reports.
Jacksonville, FL – December 30, 2019 – The Florida Times Union- Jacksonville daycare co-owner arrested in death of 4-month-old left in van It was a local death discussed in front of a congressional committee in Washington as well as in Tallahassee.
Fort Myers, FL – December 19, 2019 – The News Press- Meet Anber, a teen who struggles with mental health. Did the system fail her? Anber is part of a group of foster kids with serious mental and behavioral health needs that the Florida foster care system doesn’t know what to do with.
Texas – December 18, 2019 – The Chronicle of Social Change- Texas Projects a Severe Shortage of Foster Homes for High-Needs Kids Buried within a wonky “needs assessment” report recently released by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is a finding that should raise alarm bells around the state. And perhaps around the country.
Florida Foster Child Adopted by Forever Family at 26
During the holiday season, foster child abuse attorneys who represent kids who suffer physical abuse, sexual abuse, or other personal injuries know it can be difficult to find foster children whose stories have happy endings. The life of Florida foster child Tyrone Burns Smith is just such a story. His life could have gone any number of ways. Shuttled between more than a dozen foster and group homes, he always hoped to find his forever family. Though he wasn’t the victim of foster child abuse, being moved about left Burns Smith worried he’d never find his forever home.
But he did. At 15, he was placed with Ann Marie and Peter Smith, foster parents to Tyrone’s two siblings. Then, earlier this year, Burns Smith, now 26, finally found what he was ultimately looking for: his forever family. The man, who works as a mechanic for Disney in Central Florida, was legally adopted by the Smith family. He earned their love early on and now has their name.
To be sure, this is a rare case. Tyrone’s life could have gone down any number of paths, and justifiably so. His mother was a prostitute with substance abuse problems. His own life was spent in foster care. Though he wanted to live with the Smiths, between his siblings and kids of their own, they didn’t have the space to legally foster Tyrone. He would visit each weekend, and cry when he had to leave.
Foster homes and group homes also had taken their toll. Tyrone had emotional issues common to many long-term foster children. Though arguments ensued, a session between Tyrone, the family, and a caseworker smoothed the anger and let Tyrone know their home was his – if he wanted it.
Soon, he enrolled in technical school paid for in part by a state independent-living program. He landed the Disney job and is engaged to be married. When they all finally agreed to a formal adoption, a local attorney set up a fund to cover the $3,000 in fees and court costs. When the adoption was held, the judge cried at the ceremony.
Tyrone had waited 22 years – or 8,030 days — to be adopted by his forever family. While countless thousands of other kids are in foster homes or group homes, Tyrone’s story gives hope that forever families are out there – and there is happiness to be found at the end of the journey.
Read his entire story here.