Left: Chloe Spencer (Leon County Sheriff’s Office). Right: Daniel Spencer (Leon County Sheriff’s Office via WCTV)
A Florida stepfather reportedly offered an explanation that a 5-year-old girl had fainted fatally by holding her breath, but investigators claim to have found security footage that captured him physically abusing the child.
Daniel Spencer, 35, was observed on video mistreating Melissa Mogle, 5, by “harshly pulling her arms, forcing her face into a bed, tying her feet and hands together, and covering her with pillows and comforters,” according to Tallahassee police, as reported by local CBS affiliate WCTV. Investigators noted that Melissa’s blood was found on her pillows and comforter.
Authorities have also claimed to find photographs where Melissa’s mother, Chloe Spencer, appeared to be standing over Melissa with an object in her hand as if to hit her. Chloe Spencer allegedly confessed to investigators that she struck her child with a shoe.
Prosecutors have charged both Daniel Spencer and Chloe Spencer, 23, with second-degree murder, upgrading the case from child abuse.
Daniel Spencer’s prior conviction on April 15 for traveling to meet a minor looms over the case. He talked for hours with a Leon County sheriff’s investigator who pretended to be a 15-year-old, according to The Tallahassee Democrat. The judge let him out pending sentencing.
The Florida Department of Children and Families and the Tallahassee Police Department had also investigated him for allegedly molesting the child, though there was no arrest.
“These agencies failed a 5-year-old child and let her get murdered by the people that were supposed to protect her,” Jasmine Hartsfield, one of Melissa’s godmothers, told The Tallahassee Democrat. “They were supposed to protect her from these monsters, and they did nothing but let it happen.”
Officers said they responded May 10 just before 7:45 p.m. to a report of an unresponsive child in the 4100 block of Kipling Street, according to WCTV. They arrived to find Melissa’s grandfather performing CPR.
Meanwhile, the parents allegedly claimed that Melissa, who they said had “behavioral issues,” would hold her breath during tantrums, and that she had one such tantrum that morning while arguing with her stepfather.
Daniel Spencer asserted he left her standing in her bedroom, closing the door behind him, according to cops. Minutes later, he yelled out that Melissa was not breathing, police said. She died at a hospital.
The story allegedly started to fall apart. Police said the child’s bruising and other injuries were suspicious and indicated abuse. The autopsy showed she was malnourished.
