A six-year-old girl in Volusia County ended up at school with visible injuries, and what followed was a police investigation that led to two arrests, the child being placed in protective custody, and a small, heartbreaking moment when she gave a deputy a homemade drawing as thanks.
The child arrived at Enterprise Elementary with bruises, swelling, and redness that raised immediate alarms among school staff. School officials alerted law enforcement after noticing the extent of her injuries and behavior. Those concerns triggered a formal investigation into possible abuse and neglect.
During questioning, the young girl told officers she had been slapped in the face 17 times “because she was “acting up and destroyed her room” and spanked the next day by 29-year-old Jeffrey Morales. She also said she was fed only once a week and could not remember the last time she bathed or brushed her teeth. Those statements painted a picture of ongoing mistreatment and neglect.
Investigators allege the girl’s mother, 35-year-old Melissa Husk, tried to hide the injuries by keeping her out of school for two days. Deputies say Husk instructed the child to claim she had fallen and warned that she would be taken away if she told the truth. That combination of concealment and intimidation added another layer to the case against the household.
Authorities arrested Morales on charges of child abuse and charged Husk with child neglect, following interviews and an arrest report. The child was removed from the home and placed into the custody of the Department of Children and Families. The response aimed to secure the child’s immediate safety while detectives continued gathering evidence.
Local law enforcement released video of the arrest, which was obtained by a television station and shared through official channels. The footage shows deputies executing the arrest at the scene, underscoring the serious nature of the allegations. That material became part of the public record as officials moved the case through the system.
Amid the legal proceedings, a small human moment stood out. The girl handed one of the deputies a drawing made on a kitchen paper towel that showed her standing next to the officer. The simple sketch and the gesture offered a stark contrast to the disturbing details investigators were documenting.
The Sheriff’s office shared the drawing along with the comment “That’s a keeper,” capturing how responders sometimes receive unexpected reminders of why they do this work. The image became a symbol of vulnerability and trust in the midst of a criminal case. It also highlighted the child’s attempt to express gratitude despite what she had reportedly endured.
As the investigation advances, prosecutors and child welfare authorities will determine the next legal steps and the best long-term placement for the child. Both criminal charges and protective services processes will move forward independently to address accountability and the child’s needs. Community agencies often coordinate to provide medical care and counseling for children in situations like this.
These cases frequently prompt calls for vigilance from educators, neighbors, and relatives who interact with children daily. Schools and law enforcement are reminders that reporting concerns can set investigations in motion and potentially remove a child from a harmful environment. For the little girl, the drawing she left with a deputy offers a quiet, human reply to that intervention.
