Deputies rescue toddler from retention pond in Florida; parents arrested
By Christian Bussiere
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DELTONA, Florida (WESH) — Deputies rescued a 4-year-old child from a retention pond in Deltona early Saturday morning, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.
Jenexica Rodriguez-Crespo and Fermin Medrano-Perez, the parents of the child, were arrested on charges of child neglect and animal cruelty.
VSO responded after a caller reported an unaccompanied toddler walking near the pond. Deputies who heard the call through Live 911 spotted the child in the water and retrieved him.
“For us, that automatically triggers us to get up, move. We got to get there as quick as possible to kind of prevent worst-case scenario,” Sgt. Peter Carelli told WESH 2.
After identifying the child’s home, deputies found animal waste, a roach infestation, and mold inside, authorities said. Deltona Animal Control took custody of a caged dog that authorities said had been neglected.
“Walking up to the house, I just got this extreme foul odor from within, and I’ve been doing this for 13 years, and it was pretty bad enough that I was I was concerned that someone could have been possibly dead inside. That’s how bad it smelled,” Carelli said.
“It was just disheveled everywhere. There was stuff on the ground. There was feces that had been there for a long period of time, as well as urine,” he said. “There was insects, dead insects inside the house. You know, feces from insects. Just the whole condition.”
Deputies say a grandparent took custody of the child, and the Florida Department of Children and Families was contacted for follow-up.
“No child should have to go through that,” Carelli said.
Both parents have been released on bond.
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