A Florida waitress who helped an 11-year-old boy escape abuse is being considered a hero by local authorities.
Flavaine Carvalho was working at the Mrs. Potato Restaurant in Orlando on January 1st when a family sat at the table. Everyone received food except the child, she said during a news conference.
The stepfather, identified as Timothy Wilson II, 34, said the child would have dinner at home, she said. But Carvalho said he noticed that the boy had bruises and scratches on his face and arms.
“I could see that he had a big scratch between his eyebrows,” said Carvalho. “A few minutes later, I saw a bruise on the side of the eye. So I thought there was something really wrong.”
In an effort to help, she secretly wrote a note to the boy that said, “Do you need help? OK.” He initially answered no, she said. Carvalho said the parents failed to see the note.
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A restaurant waitress in Florida helped save an 11-year-old boy from an abused home, police said.
(Orlando Police Department)
After another attempt, the boy signaled yes and she called 911.
He was taken to a hospital, where doctors determined that he had bruises all over his face and arms and was 10 pounds underweight for his age, officials said. Police said the boy was subjected to other types of abuse, including being forced to make boards for 30 minutes at a time. He would be defeated if he failed, they said.
“What this child was suffering from was continuous abuse and torture,” said Detective Erin Lawler.
A police spokesman said the injuries to the child were serious.
“In the opinion of the principal investigator, that child was destined to be killed,” he said.
Wilson was arrested on suspicion of third-degree child abuse. He was arrested a second time on January 6 and charged with several counts of child abuse and neglect.
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The child’s mother, Kristen Swann, 31, admitted to knowing about the alleged abuse, but did not seek medical attention, officials said. She faces two charges of child neglect.
The boy and the couple’s 4-year-old son was removed from the home by the Florida Department of Children and Families.