Brian Griffeth, 47, Jill Griffeth, 41, and their two grownup organic kids — Dallin Griffeth, 21, and Liberty Griffeth, 19 — have all been arrested and charged with aggravated youngster abuse, after they allegedly subjected their adopted and foster kids to myriad types of abuse.
A Florida household is dealing with disturbing allegations of utmost abuse after being accused of abusing their adopted and foster kids — together with beatings, meals deprivation, and even confinement in a do-it-yourself “cage.”
Brian Griffeth, 47, Jill Griffeth, 41, and their two grownup organic kids — Dallin Griffeth, 21, and Liberty Griffeth, 19 — have all been arrested and charged with aggravated youngster abuse, based on Columbia County courtroom information.
The investigation into the Griffeths started after one of many kids allegedly introduced a Taser to a Mormon church camp in Branford, Florida. When questioned, the mother and father reportedly informed authorities the gadget “was faux and a toy,” however an arrest warrant reviewed by Regulation&Crime said, “legislation enforcement decided the gadget was an precise weapon.”
Following the incident, a church worker raised crimson flags with youngster welfare authorities. In line with the arrest affidavit, the worker informed investigators the Griffeths had not too long ago moved from Arizona to Florida with a number of foster kids and that they “primarily foster or undertake African American kids.”
The worker expressed concern the youngsters “are being handled unfairly,” and famous they had been “not receiving correct training, as not one of the foster or adopted kids are conversant in their final names or primary private info.” The affidavit added: “The kids act as employee[s], not members of the family.”
When youngster protecting companies confirmed up on the Griffeths’ dwelling in rural Columbia County, Jill Griffeth allegedly refused to let investigators inside or permit interviews with the youngsters. She ultimately allowed them in, however solely underneath supervision, based on the warrant.
Throughout these first interviews, among the kids reportedly did not know their birthdates. The affidavit says Jill “needed to appropriate them or seemed up the data on her telephone.” She allegedly ended the interviews early, telling officers she wished to “seek the advice of together with her lawyer.”
Authorities additionally seen a baby who was “anticipated to be current” was lacking. Jill reportedly claimed the kid had “by no means been to Florida,” however certainly one of her kids corrected her. It was later revealed the woman had lived with the household earlier in 2024 — till she contacted her organic mom in Arizona, “begging her to return get her,” based on the courtroom paperwork.
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In a redacted portion of the report, the Arizona mom allegedly informed authorities no less than one grownup within the dwelling sexually assaulted one of many kids.
The report additionally states that Brian Griffeth “beats the foster and adopted kids with a cane however is cautious to not go away a mark.” One witness reportedly informed investigators that “if there wasn’t sufficient meals, the foster and adopted kids within the dwelling wouldn’t get any meals.”
The Griffeths reportedly have 5 organic kids, three adopted kids, and one foster youngster. All kids had been faraway from the house earlier this month.
Throughout a remedy session, a 14-year-old boy alleged he was “caged in his bunk mattress at dwelling as punishment.” In line with the warrant, he mentioned the adults would use a bit of plywood to cowl the opening to his bottom-tier mattress — even at evening — and he typically needed to wait till morning to make use of the lavatory.
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“[The boy] additionally reported that his mom sometimes asks him to scooch out of his mattress and lie on the ground, throughout which she presses the plywood sheet onto his chest and again as a type of punishment, leading to splinters that trigger harm,” the affidavit said. “[The boy] lifted his shirt and pointed to a number of scars from this punishment.”
On one event, the boy claimed that when he banged on the plywood to be set free, “his mom unscrewed the plywood, main him to consider he could be freed. Nevertheless, she then instructed him to lie again down and pressed the plywood onto his chest,” earlier than fastening it once more.
The boy additionally mentioned he’d been “prayed within the face with vinegar” as punishment.
Two youthful kids — ages 9 and seven — shared almost equivalent accounts. The 14-year-old, they mentioned, was “confined to his mattress a lot of the day and evening,” solely set free “for lunch, dinner, every time he needs to play, and generally on his brothers’ request.” A inexperienced drill was reportedly used to safe the plywood in place. The mother and father allegedly informed investigators this was accomplished as a result of the boy “tends to steal.”
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One other sibling mentioned her caged brother “likes it in his mattress and sleeps so much.”
Two teenage ladies, ages 14 and 15, additionally backed up the claims concerning the bunk-bed confinement. The 14-year-old woman additionally revealed she had “not attended faculty for six or seven years,” was “unsure of her present grade stage,” and “talked about that she is illiterate.”
She claimed her mom as soon as “sprayed [her] earlier than mattress with vinegar,” saying the vinegar “burned her eyes making her cry herself to sleep.”
The 15-year-old woman shared one other alleged disparity in how the Griffeths handled their organic children in comparison with the adopted and foster kids: cellphones.
“[She] defined that she’s requested for a telephone however her mom mentioned she has to study to learn earlier than she will get a telephone,” the warrant famous.
All 4 members of the Griffeth household are at the moment being held within the Columbia County Jail with out bond.
In case you are experiencing or witness youngster abuse, name the Childhelp Nationwide Little one Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Little one or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. Should you consider a baby is in quick hazard, name 911.
