Skip to main content
Cloudy icon
70º

Florida couple faces charges for child neglect after toddler found locked in small closet

Florida couple faces child neglect charges. (Courtesy: Port St. Lucie Police)

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – A Florida couple with four children ages two-months to three-years-old is facing child neglect charges.

According to Port St. Lucie police, one child was found locked in a dark closet and the baby was found with severe diaper rash on Wednesday afternoon.

Recommended Videos



Police said they were under the care of James Spiess, 28, and Rebecca Worthington, 27.

According to a police report, a two-year-old was trapped in a 2.5 ft. x 8 ft. closet with no light in the closet. The door to the closet had baby gates, dog gates, headboards, pieces of wood, and chairs tied together with bed sheets and belts blocking the closet door.

Officers also found a 2-month-old baby with severe diaper rash from the thigh to the lower back that required hospitalization. The investigation revealed the child had not seen a doctor since birth.

Spiess and Worthington were arrested and charged with two counts each of child neglect.

Both are currently being held at the St. Lucie County Jail.


About the Author
Veronica Crespo headshot

Veronica Crespo writes for Local10.com and also oversees the Español section of the website. Born and raised in Miami, she graduated from the University of Miami, where she studied broadcast journalism and Spanish.

Loading...

Recommended Videos