FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The father of a 3-year-old boy who was found dead inside a Hollywood home last week was released from jail Thursday morning after posting a $50,000 bond.
Nelson Osceola, 25, walked out of the main Broward County jail without speaking to reporters.
Osceola was arrested Wednesday on a child neglect charge after his son, Ahziya Osceola, was found dead last Thursday night.
His wife, Analiz Osceola, was also arrested on charges of aggravated manslaughter, child neglect and providing false information to law enforcement. She was in court Thursday morning as Judge John Hurley set her bond at $230,000.
Hollywood police Chief Frank Fernandez said Ahziya's body was wrapped in garbage bags and placed in an 8-inch-wide box in a laundry room. Fernandez said the box was then placed inside several other garbage bags filled with clothes in an attempt to hide the body.
Analiz Osceola initially told police that Ahziya was missing, as was money from the home, leading officers to believe that the boy may have been abducted, Fernandez said.
Ahziya "endured what we believe to be a significant amount of pain," Fernandez said, citing internal and external injuries to the body.
Fernandez said there was bruising throughout the body, indicating that the injuries appeared to have occurred over time.
"She knew that the child was injured" but didn't attempt to help him, Fernandez said.
According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, there were four previous reports investigated by the Broward Sheriff's Office involving the Osceola family dating back to 2013.
A 27-page confidential investigative summary obtained by Local 10 News details the allegations of abuse Ahziya was alleged to have endured during his short life.
"The impressions were positive for physical abuse," the report noted.
In April 2014, Ahziya had "finger prints and a bruise" on the lower side of each side of his jaw bone, the report said.
"He has scratches on both sides of his neck, a large bruise and bump on the right side of his forehead, a knot above his ear in his hair and bruises on his left rib cage on his back," the report stated.
Months later, workers at the day care center where Ahziya attended said he had several bruises on a weekly basis on his body, the report said.
There was also a notation after Ahziya's visit to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital.
"After being evaluated, the doctor has determined that Ahziya has small abrasions in his rectum," the report said.
The case was closed "with no indicators of physical injury," citing a lack of "physical evidence to support the allegation of physical abuse."
Fernandez said Ahziya died of blunt-force trauma and that an autopsy indicated he was already dead when he was placed in the box.
Analiz Osceola was involuntarily taken into custody for a psychological evaluation under the Baker Act last week.
"She's emotionally distraught," Analiz Osceola's attorney, Meeghan Moldof, told Local 10 News. "She was released from the psychiatric ward. Obviously, she has a lot going on right now."
Ahziya's siblings remain in the care of other family members.
Ahziya Osceola, 3, was found dead inside his Hollywood home.
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