EAST PALATKA, Fla. – Editor’s note: This article contains graphic details that some may find disturbing.
What began as an attempt by Putnam County deputies to arrest a man wanted by authorities in Lake County on a probation violation has turned into a child neglect investigation.
Owen Kyle Watson, 34, is facing two counts of child neglect after detectives said he failed to provide his 1-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter with proper care and basic necessities.
According to the arrest report, on Tuesday, the state Department of Corrections contacted the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and requested deputies go to Watson’s home and arrest him on a charge of violating his probation after he was convicted of driving on a suspended license and fleeing from police.
When Putnam County deputies arrived at Watson’s disabled RV, according to the arrest report, Watson was outside the RV holding his 2-year-girl, who smelled of urine and feces. Her clothing was wet and her diaper was soggy as the child was handed over to a deputy. When deputies entered the RV, they discovered a nude 1-year-old boy covered in peanut butter and feces as he stood up in his crib. He also had sores on his leg that, according to deputies, appeared to be bug bites.
According to deputies, the inside of the RV was in a deplorable condition with clothing, toys and filth on the floor. Deputies said it appeared both children had been eating from a paper plate that had peanut butter and there was no other food in the RV except a box of instant oatmeal.
The report states that when a deputy attempted to clean and change the diaper of the little girl, it was obvious the dirty diaper had been on her for so long that she had open sores.
Upon further inspection by deputies, it was determined that the RV did not have running water, a septic system or electricity. According to the report, deputies looked under the RV and found several gallon jugs filled with what appeared to be urine. The report also states the back bedroom had a large opening that a small child could have easily slipped through. The back bedroom was also filled with tools and broken pieces of wood.
“I’m a father of a 4-year-old and I could not imagine my child going through something like that,” said neighbor Karon Williams. “It’s just heartbreaking to think any child could go through neglect like that.”
While Watson was in custody, he called his mother, Kimberly Frye, who arrived at the RV and spoke with deputies.
According to the report, Frye told deputies she had previously been in the hospital but had brought several gallons of water and food to her son’s RV on a weekly basis. She said she took the kids to her home on the weekends but brought them back to the RV on Monday mornings. The report states that Frye told deputies she was aware of the living conditions inside the RV and that the conditions had been that way for the past six weeks.
An investigator working the case noted in the report that Frye was fully aware of the living conditions but never called the Department of Children and Families or law enforcement to report it. According to deputies, Fry currently works at a special needs day care facility and is mandated by state law to report child abuse and neglect.
After a briefing between deputies and DCF, a decision was made to allow the grandmother to be with a DCF worker as the children were being transported to Flagler Hospital to be medically evaluated.
Code enforcement arrived on the scene and condemned the RV.
Watson was arrested and charged with two counts of child neglect on top of the two counts of violating his probation. Charges for failing to report child neglect against Watson’s mother were forwarded to the state attorney’s office for review. The charges are third-degree felonies. The Sheriff’s Office told News4Jax that because the children are no longer in immediate danger, DCF allowed Frye to have temporary custody of her grandchildren.
News4JAX has also learned the mother of the two children is currently incarcerated, but it’s unclear if her incarceration is within the state of Florida.