Five sibling foster children were denied meals while their caretaker's biological daughter ate KFC and Popeyes in front of them, according to an arrest warrant obtained by Fort Pierce police. Gwendolyn Rolle, 59, a pastor at New Hope International Church in Fort Pierce, Florida, allegedly forced the children ages 4 to 9 to bathe with a garden hose on her front patio while she withheld basic necessities from them.
Background
Rolle took the five siblings into her home after their father abandoned them, according to police. She is not a licensed foster parent. The arrest warrant states that an anonymous tipster contacted Fort Pierce police on June 2 reporting child abuse at Rolle's residence, explaining she had been afraid to speak out because Rolle "is a pastor and held to a higher standard within the community."
The children told investigators they were regularly bullied at school due to their smell from being denied showers and clean clothes. School staff members confirmed providing one of the girls with perfume or spray to mask her odor so other students would not tease her.
"Her living room smelled horrible after the children slept there, due to the odor emanating from their bodies," an anonymous community member told police in a sworn statement. "She said that she has tried giving the children food, clothes, and toys, but that Gwendolyn always confiscates the items and either throws them away or gives them to [her biological daughter]."
The Investigation
Fort Pierce police opened an investigation after receiving the anonymous complaint on June 2. Officers interviewed the five child victims, their school contacts, and a community member who had attempted to help the children.
The arrest warrant outlines alleged statements from one of the victims: "[The daughter] gets special treatment such as getting to use a toilet instead of a bucket to go to the bathroom in, she gets to shower, and get better food such as KFC or Popeyes."
"Sometimes [the child] and her siblings do not get to eat dinner due to Gwendolyn not letting them eat and have to go to bed hungry," the warrant alleges. The children claimed they were fed only leftovers from school-provided meals or ramen noodle packets.
Rolle allegedly admitted to having only one working restroom, stating the other was "out of order for repairs." However, investigators noted she kept her bedroom door—the only access to the functioning bathroom—locked even when home. "Gwendolyn primarily only unlocks it for [her biological daughter] to use the bathroom," according to the warrant.
The children also accused Rolle of physical abuse, including slaps to the face and other strikes. They alleged she called them derogatory names. Rolle has since bonded out of jail following her arrest and has been assigned a public defender.
Key Takeaways
- Gwendolyn Rolle, 59, faces five felony counts of child neglect without great bodily harm in St. Lucie County
- The five victims are siblings ranging from 4 to 9 years old who were placed in her care after their father abandoned them
- Rolle is not a licensed foster parent despite caring for the children
- She allegedly forced the children to bathe with a garden hose on her front patio while her biological daughter used a working shower inside
- Children told investigators they were regularly fed only ramen noodles or school meal leftovers while the biological child received fast food meals
- Rolle kept the only functioning bathroom locked, accessible primarily for her biological daughter's use
What's Next
Rolle remains free on bond as she awaits prosecution. A preliminary hearing date has not yet been set. The five children have been removed from Rolle's home and placed in protective custody. Child welfare investigators are reviewing the circumstances of how the siblings came to be under her care despite her lack of foster licensing.