According to Florida authorities, a mother and her boyfriend are facing charges after a toddler girl suffered fractures to her arm, leg, and ribs, a bite mark, and bruising all over her body, as well as the knocking out of her two bottom teeth.
Jordan Moore, 28, is accused of child neglect, and her boyfriend, Jesse Smith, 29, is charged with aggravated child abuse.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office in Florida’s Panhandle launched an investigation Jan. 8 after the girl, whose age was not disclosed, was taken to a hospital with serious injuries in various stages of healing that authorities believe were caused by child abuse, according to a probable cause arrest affidavit.
Moore told police that she had custody of the children, who were with their father between December 27 and January 5. She allegedly stated that she noticed some cuts on her elbow, but they did not appear serious. Police say the abuse happened while Smith was watching her.
Moore denied that her boyfriend abused the girl during a post- Miranda interview with detectives. She blamed the fractures on “brittle bone disease,” but doctors ran tests and discovered the girl did not have the genetic condition that causes bones to break easily.
Moore also insisted that Smith did not keep a close eye on the girl for extended periods. However, the messages on her phone tell a different story.
Moore allegedly texted her co-defendant on December 22: “You intentionally hit her head on the door. All I did was ask why you did that, and you threw her in the backseat.
It hurts me that you act as if you hate my children. I’m so good to your kids and treat them like they’re my own, but you act like you can’t stand [the victim].”
The mother also texted with a family member who was watching the child in early December. According to the affidavit, the family member maintains “close relations” with the Department of Children and Families. Cops do not elaborate on the family member’s role with DCF in the affidavit. He is not facing any charges.
He expressed concern about the girl’s injuries, saying she looked “horrible” and appeared to have been “punched in the face,” according to police. According to the affidavit, the girl appeared to have new injuries every time she came to see him over several days in December.
“Don’t take her out in public,” the family member allegedly advised, concerned that DCF would intervene and remove her from the home.
On December 23, a family member asked Moore if the girl could stay with him. “Someone is abusing this kid!,” he allegedly wrote.
Moore claimed to the family member that the injuries were caused by falls and bug bites, according to the affidavit.
Smith denied to detectives that he was abusing the girl, claiming he would playfully pinch her nose. However, her sibling claimed the nose pinching was more sinister. According to the affidavit, Smith would get “maddy maddy maddy” when the girl cried and then use tweezers to pinch her nose and cover her mouth.
Moore and Smith were arrested on March 1, and prosecutors filed formal charges on March 10. Smith remains in the Santa Rosa County Jail on a $300,000 bond, while Moore has bonded out. Their next court date is set for March 27.
