A 32-year-old woman and 28-year-old man are behind bars on child-abuse charges after two children living in “extreme filth” iwere spanked and bruised with belts, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Zachariah J. Wolford was charged with two counts of child abuse, while girlfriend Jessica L. Kruse was charged with child abuse and child neglect.
The investigation began Monday when officers were called to Jeff Davis Middle School after a large fresh bruise was found on a female student’s right thigh. The girl said she fell off a bed, according to the arrest report. The girl’s brother was not in school because he missed the bus, she told police.
Officers went to the children’s home and found smashed hot dogs, crackers and cereal covering the floors, along with dirty diapers also on the floor and kitchen counters, the report said. Two other children were in the house clothed only in diapers. Police called the living conditions “very dirty, unsafe and very unsanitary.” Officers also found large bruises on the brother’s thigh and a fresh bruise on his face.
The boy said he had been hit 15 times with a belt on his leg by the man, adding his sister “got it next, but she got hit 20 times” as the woman watched, the report said. The girl was interviewed by officers at school and said she and her brother get spanked almost every day, but she doesn’t know why. Their ages were redacted from the report.
When questioned by officers, Wolford got aggressive and said the children don’t respect him, adding “I pop them on the lips when they get smart,” the report said.