A 37-year-old Florida man and his 33-year-old partner have been arrested after investigators say they left five children so severely malnourished that one weighed only 44 pounds — even as the family's kitchen remained stocked with nutritious food, according to a Duval County Sheriff's Office probable cause affidavit.
The discovery began July 18 when officers responded to assist the Florida Department of Children and Families at Wolfson Children's Hospital in Jacksonville, where doctors had evaluated one child referred by a primary care physician. The child's condition prompted hospital staff to contact DCF, triggering an investigation that would expose a pattern of alleged neglect affecting all five siblings.
When officers arrived at the family's apartment around 9:58 p.m., they found four additional children inside — all appearing in dire need of medical assistance.
Background
"It should be noted that when I entered the apartment, I observed 4 juveniles that were extremely thin in stature," the arrest affidavit states. "All were extremely hesitant to speak to any other adults present. [One child] looked extremely malnourished and I visibly observed boney prominence."
The children were taken to Wolfson Children's Hospital for medical evaluations while detectives documented both the home and the children's conditions.
During questioning, Anthony Jones admitted the children "had not been fed today," according to the affidavit. He told investigators the children woke up around 1 p.m., and by the time officers arrived nearly nine hours later, he had been waiting for a DCF investigator before feeding them because he claimed he "did not want someone in the house while the children were eating."
The Investigation
Medical examinations revealed disturbing findings. One child weighed just 44 pounds, had unexplained marks on his back, bruising on his ankle and side, and was documented as "not receiving enough nutrition." Another child weighed 75 pounds with bruising to the rib cage. A third weighed 61 pounds with open wounds on both earlobes, while a fourth weighed 63 pounds with a circumferential abrasion on the wrist.
An emergency room nurse told investigators one child said he "had not eaten at all today" and claimed he "was instructed" to "lie to the DCF investigator." The same child initially said a scar on his forearm came from running before later stating Erica A. Bryant had tried "to cut his arm."
The explanation Jones provided appeared to conflict sharply with what officers discovered inside the apartment.
Key Takeaways
- Anthony Jones, 37, and Erica A. Bryant, 33, were arrested Saturday and charged with five counts each of child neglect without great bodily harm
- Investigators found the kitchen "stocked with nutritious food such as deli meat, bread, and frozen food" despite children being severely underweight for their ages
- One child weighed only 44 pounds; another told a nurse he had been instructed to lie to DCF investigators about his condition
- Jones admitted he delayed feeding the children while waiting for a DCF investigator to arrive at the home
- Bryant told investigators she would not force her children to eat, even when asked if they were hungry
What's Next
Jones and Bryant are being held in the Duval County Jail on $125,000 bond each. They are scheduled to return to court on Aug. 11 for arraignment hearings.
The Florida Department of Children and Families continues its investigation into the care of all five children.