Florida Parents Arrested for Child Neglect; Deaf and Mute 15-Year-Old Found Living in Unsuitable Conditions

Volusia County deputies arrested Samantha Acker, 37, and Christopher Rounds, 36, this week on charges of child neglect after their 15-year-old daughter, who is deaf and mute, attended school wearing dirty clothes and carrying a backpack infested with cockroaches. Upon inspecting the family home, which also includes three other children aged 16, 10, and 8, deputies found it in a state of “complete disarray.” The house emitted a foul odor, had no functioning air conditioning, and was cluttered with trash to the extent that doors to the children’s rooms were nearly impassable.

Investigators learned that despite the 15-year-old being deaf and mute since birth, no one in the home knows sign language to communicate with her. Additionally, authorities discovered that the Department of Children and Families had previously been alerted about potential “unsuitable living conditions” at the residence, as well as one child suffering from “chronic head lice.”

While no evidence of physical abuse was found, all four children were removed from the home and placed in temporary custody with family friends.