Prosecutors in Florida have decided to dismiss charges against a family of four previously accused of mistreating their nine adopted and foster children. After an investigation, authorities concluded that the family was merely trying to cope with challenging situations.
Brian Griffeth, 47, along with his wife Jill, 41, and their biological children, Dallin, 21, and Liberty, 19, have been freed after it was determined that their conduct was consistent with the struggles faced by “a poor family, devout in their faith, and raising nine minor children in a cramped home,” as noted by Law&Crime.
The family was arrested in July following an incident where one of their foster children brought a Taser to a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints camp, as CrimeOnline previously reported.
Upon contacting the church, authorities learned that the Griffeths had recently moved to Florida from Arizona. During this discussion, a church member expressed additional concerns regarding the children’s welfare.
During interviews conducted by state child welfare officials, detectives observed that the children, aged 7 to 16, were questioned. A 14-year-old in particular was found lacking basic literacy and unaware of his birthdate. He claimed he was often confined under his bunk bed and denied bathroom access.
It was reported that the mother disciplined him by pressing a plywood board against his body, resulting in splinter scars, and used vinegar spray as a punitive measure.
Another 14-year-old child in the home stated that she had not attended school in years and had no idea of her grade level. Some of the children reported sexual abuse.
But all of that came for naught last month when prosecutors decided not to prosecute the case. A notice of nolle prosequi — a Latin term meaning “unwilling to prosecute” — said that depositions uncovered “a series of blame shifting, finger pointing, and outright denials of matters contained within the initial reports and response.”
“All initial salacious gossip concerning children being treated as slaves or incidents of sexual abuse were determined to be unfounded in this investigation,” the notice said.
The child who reported being caged in his bunk was confined because the child engaged in “violence against other children, adults, and animals.” The vinegar sprayed into his mouth was a “diluted solution” that was a modern day version of soap in the mouth as a punishment.
Prosecutors said such a punishment “does not constitute child abuse.” Overall, the prosecutors said, they could not present the case to a jury, who “would be asked to consider: a poor family, devout in their faith, and raising 9 minor children in a small home, addressing the situation in a manner they deem appropriate to ensure the safety and security of the alleged victim and to also ensure no acts of violence were perpetrated upon the other children.”
The nine adopted and foster children were removed from the home this summer. It’s not clear if they have been sent back to the “small home.”
