A 5-year-old girl from Florida died as a result of alleged maltreatment by her mother and stepfather.
The tragedy began just before 7:45 a.m. on May 19, when Tallahassee police officers responded to a call about an unconscious toddler not breathing in the 4100 block of Kipling Court.
Officers responded and saw a man, subsequently identified as the girl’s grandfather, giving CPR on 5-year-old Missy Mogle. Missy’s mother, Chloe Spencer, 23, and stepfather, Daniel Spencer, 35, told detectives that the kid had “behavioural issues” and would hold her breath during tantrums to manipulate her parents.
The parents said that their daughter threw a tantrum that morning.
Daniel Spencer claimed that he was arguing with the 5-year-old when she started to hold her breath.
In answer, he told investigators that he left her standing in her bedroom, closed the door, and walked out. After a few minutes, investigators said Daniel alerted the household that Missy was not breathing, prompting her grandfather to attempt CPR.
Daniel and Chloe Spencer then dialled 911, according to court records.
Responding authorities noticed “suspicious bruising and injury patterns” on Missy’s body, indicating mistreatment.
She was brought to the hospital and pronounced dead. An autopsy also revealed that the five-year-old was malnourished.
Investigators discovered footage on security cameras in the girl’s bedroom that allegedly show Daniel Spencer “physically abusing [the girl] by hitting her, violently pulling her arms, shoving her face into a bed, binding her feet and hands together, and covering her with pillows and comforters.” Additionally, her blood was discovered on her pillows and comforter.
Other photographs revealed Chloe Spencer “standing over [her daughter], who was on her bed in the foetal position, while Chloe held an object over her head as if she was preparing to hit [her] with the object.”
The 23-year-old mother later informed investigators that she beat the girl with the sneaker, according to court records.
The small child’s terrible demise has stunned the community because of her stepfather’s criminal background. The Leon County Sheriff’s Office arrested Daniel Spencer last year after conducting a sting operation. He was accused with several child sex crimes, including travelling to meet a youngster, and was found guilty last month.
Daniel Spencer was free on bail while awaiting sentencing when his stepdaughter died.
Furthermore, court documents show that Tallahassee Police investigated allegations that Daniel sexually molested a 5-year-old girl last year.
No arrests were made because police were unable to secure adequate probable cause. Chloe and Daniel Spencer were both charged with second-degree murder. They are also facing a number of counts, including aggravated battery on a child, child negligence resulting in serious bodily harm, and failure to report child abuse.
A judge also ordered that each of them have no contact with any witnesses or youngsters, including their other children.
Daniel’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 6. Chloe Spencer’s motion hearing is planned for Friday.
Daniel entered a conditional not guilty plea on Wednesday, according to court documents. Chloe also entered a written plea of not guilty, according to the clerk of courts’ website.
Reference: 5-year-old girl dies days after alleged abuse was captured on video in her bedroom, police say
