FL - Mother & boyfriend charged w/ locking girl, 5, in closet, malnourished, beaten, Dec 2021

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Alexandra Ebey, 37, was originally charged with child neglect last December, according to News4Jax. Now authorities have added aggravated abuse to her crimes, claiming the Florida mother and her boyfriend locked the woman's child in a closet for 25 days.
[snip]
The Florida Department of Children and Families notified police on Dec. 14, 2021, according to an arrest report cited by News4Jax. Investigators visited the Westside home where they found the emaciated child, who’d sustained such extensive open wounds that skin was falling off her body in places.
[snip]
Investigators spoke with the girl’s brothers, who claimed their sister was “always in trouble,” according to Trout’s arrest warrant. Neighbors said the two young boys acted as parents to the victim.
Florida Woman's Charges Upgraded After Daughter Found In Locked Closet After 25 Days | Oxygen Official Site

Detectives spoke with the girl’s two older brothers who also had signs of abuse and neglect. The 5-year-old told police she was locked down with handcuffs, a belt, and rope while locked in the closet for 25 days.

“I was over there the other day and the little girl was saying that she was worried about starving to death when she was going to sleep and she shouldn’t have to worry about when her next meal is coming,” according to the neighbor.
[snip]
“It’s a game-changer when you see them fully clothed, they are clean, they are happy, they are smiling, they are laughing. They are still scared but at least they are still smiling at the end of the day.”
JSO: Jacksonville mom faces upgraded charges after child found ‘emaciated with open wounds’

During their investigation, JSO said Alexandra Ebey, 37, who Action News Jax has learned is the child’s mother, walked up to the residence and said the child was using the bathroom and would be outside shortly.

When the child came outside, the arrest report stated that the child was “extremely weak and emaciated” and had open wounds on her body.
[snip]
Action News Jax reporter Kristen Rary spoke to the neighbor who called police after she hadn’t seen the girl.

The neighbor said she has known Ebey’s four kids for years. After seeing their health decline and not seeing the girl for nearly a month, she called police, fearing the worst.

“You could see ribs, you could see malnutrition, patches in their hair, bites all over them. It all varies with them honestly. All I could do is just, report it,” the neighbor told Rary.
JSO: ‘Weak and emaciated’ child rescued from home, Jacksonville woman arrested

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A woman is in jail on $50,000 bond after police say she neglected a child. Alexandra Ebey, 37, is charged with willful child neglect causing great bodily harm. According to a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office incident report, the Department of Children and Families had an open case against the suspect.

DCF became concerned for the child fearing she might be dead after counselors couldn't locate her. Ebey told DCF investigators that the child was with her grandparents, but when the grandparents were called, they said they haven't seen the child in months.
Florida woman accused of handcuffing, locking child in closet | firstcoastnews.com
 
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Oh, dear G-d -- All of those children need to be out of there, and it looks like they are. It sounds like the 5 y/o girl will be treated at a good hospital, and she may very well recover at least physically; the boys will be checked also -- they will need special care as well, IMO. Hoping the relatives they find, if there are any, are good folks who can afford the money, patience and TLC to keep the three together and to make a good home for them. Forever. No going back to "mom." So glad the call was made when it was -- who knoze what one or two more weeks would have done to her and her brothers.

Why do people do this? One answer is, because they can. That's one reason why these horrors will never stop until the world stops.

Prayers for these children and for those who take care of them.
 
  • #5
@borndem while I know these atrocities happened prior to the Pandemic, I wonder if there has been an escalating effect for these crimes? It seems that way to me.
 
  • #6
Thank you to the observant neighbour. We as a society need to do this more.
 
  • #7
@borndem while I know these atrocities happened prior to the Pandemic, I wonder if there has been an escalating effect for these crimes? It seems that way to me.

I think there are more, too. Due to Covid, many children have been at home, not at school, and those people are kind of shut-in all day together. Someone with a short fuse and a bent, cruel mind will take their frustrations out on a defenseless child. If there is a man in the house who takes frustrations out on the woman, she may pass it down to the kids. Many kids have breakfast and lunch at school -- if they're at home, they may not get good meals -- lazy mom or not enuff money for good groceries, loss of a job, possibly drug problems, and the children are always there which could enrage or at least irritate the adult at home. No excuses, of course for this, but I think such cruelty and frustration have indeed increased at the peril of the little ones.
 
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Florida Woman's Charges Upgraded After Daughter Found In Locked Closet After 25 Days | Oxygen Official Site

Snip:
The child was released from the hospital last Friday. She and her three brothers are now in the care of their grandparents.

I hope, hope, hope that the grandparents were checked out thoroughly when they were apparently given custody. Also hoping they are young enuff to raise three needy children who need a lot of love and care, help with homework, support for school projects, happy holidays, good nurturing food, positive encouragement and eventually closeness. Hoping the children are excited about living with their grandparents. They will also need counseling and evaluation as do the grandparents. A lot of work for this new family and others who can help in restoring their physical and mental health, and helping them to trust that their grands do truly love them.
A long haul for all of them -- but maybe they will all start to get a good night's sleep and wake up to smiles and hugs.
 
  • #11
per presser - LE last saw Harmony during police call to residence in September. She was seen at the residence at that time. LE considers the last known time Harmony was seen was around october/november of 2019. won't supply details about how they have arrived at that as the last seen alive date, which differs from the date of their September visit.

missed much of it due to a client phone call.
 
  • #12
What went wrong? She seemed over the moon with the child at one point.
 
  • #13
Grandparents? They didn't ask where the little girl was over the holidays? Not judging, just wondering if this is the healthiest situation.
 
  • #14
Grandparents? They didn't ask where the little girl was over the holidays? Not judging, just wondering if this is the healthiest situation.
Oh, dear -- I hate to hear that. Maybe they pleaded "covid" or something. SMH. Family, family, family. Sometimes it's not the best thing for the children.
So hoping it will be good for those poor children. Also hoping there will be follow-up by CPS. It must be done.
 
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next pretrial hearing coming up for Alexandra Eby - Duval Count FL
1/19/20239:00 AMPRETRIAL6th Floor605

next pretrial hearing coming up for Kenneth Trout - Duval Count FL
1/18/20239:00 AMPRETRIAL6th Floor605
 
  • #19
I cannot find any updated info on this case and don't want to have to register to check the docket. Used to be free public access but now they want you to register :(
 
  • #20
I cannot find any updated info on this case and don't want to have to register to check the docket. Used to be free public access but now they want you to register :(
I’ll see if I can get in on my laptop when I’m finished making cookies.
 

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