William Conner (Volusia County Sheriff’s Office).
A 42-year-old Florida man is accused of subjecting two children, a 12-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, to what authorities described as “heinous punishment,” including allegedly forcing the boy to live in a sweltering laundry room with no air conditioning.
William Conner now faces two counts of child abuse and two counts of child neglect, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood sharply condemned the allegations, writing on social media, “The year’s not over but this P.O.S. is on track to be ‘Scumbag of the YEAR.’”
Investigators said the 12-year-old boy appeared to be Conner’s “main target.” Deputies allege Conner withheld food and water from the child and made him stay in a detached laundry room that lacked air conditioning, despite Florida’s oppressive heat. Authorities said the boy was also forced to use a bucket as a toilet.
The allegations against Conner extend even further, according to deputies.
“Additionally, the boy said Conner fed him food contaminated with animal feces and gave him water mixed with urine,” deputies wrote. “When the boy learned what he ate, he vomited.”
Conner’s alleged reaction, authorities said, was to laugh.
Conner also allegedly sometimes forced the boy to stay awake all night and would blast audio into the room to “torment him if he fell asleep.”
The 14-year-old girl also was subjected to some of the same treatment.
Deputies began investigating in May after the Department of Children and Families referred the case to the sheriff’s office. Once cops established probable cause, they arrested Conner on Thursday.
Samantha Lucas, 33, also was arrested as part of the case and is facing two counts of child neglect.
Both suspects have since posted bond. Conner is set to appear in court on Aug. 11, while Lucas is scheduled for an Aug. 18 arraignment.
The children are no longer in Conner’s custody, deputies said.
The post 12-year-old boy forced to stay in laundry room with no air conditioning, fed food no one should have to eat and was not allowed to sleep: Cops first appeared on Law & Crime.
