Last Updated: 3:21 p.m.
A toddler is at Wolfson Children’s Hospital and his father is at the Flagler County jail, facing two counts of felony aggravated child abuse, after the child is believed to have been burned with scalding or boiling water and beaten with a switch.
Deviaun A. Toler, 26, of 32 Westfield Lane in Palm Coast, was arrested this morning. The alleged incidents are believed to have taken place a few weeks earlier at the W-Section house, which has been the scene of daylong police activity and investigation.
According to his arrest report, Toler allegedly bathed the child in a bathtub containing boiling water and used a washcloth doused in the same water, causing a large burn from the top of the child’s shoulder down the entirety of the right arm, “which has caused permanent disfigurement and great bodily harm.” The burns were sustained three to four weeks ago, and the child received no medical treatment at the time.
Toler is also charged for spanking the child with a belt at least three times and using a switch from a tree to discipline the child, causing scarring and open lacerations on the child’s buttocks to the point of disfigurement.
Authorities were alerted to the child’s injuries by DCF, whose case worker was herself contacted by Florida Hospital Flagler, where the child was taken by Toler, apparently early this morning. An incident report points to yet additional and severe injuries, including bruising to the chest, a fractured skull and brain swelling. That’s what prompted deputies’ response to the W-Section home this morning.
Toler is believed to share the W-Section house with his girlfriend, who is not a suspect at this time, according to the sheriff’s office. The couple have another child in common. The Department of Children and Families is investigating the case and has taken custody of at least one of the children–the child in the hospital–and may take custody of the second child.
Aggravated child abuse is a first-degree felony exposing individuals to up to 30 years in prison on conviction.
fredrick says
What in the hell is wrong with people?
woodchuck says
Let’s have some more kids.
Buck Troesch says
Has our society evolved to a state of barbarism. The child will be physchology scarred for life as well as the physical scars. Why do people have children if they don’t wish to love and respect for them?
Layla says
If you cannot deal with a toddler, take him to the hospital and ask for help. This is insane.
Trailer Bob says
What the hell is wrong with someone who fracture the skull of his own infant child? Burns the baby? Brain swelling? He had better lose his children, and never be able to be near a minor again. Hopefully some of the more sane inmates with him will school him on beating. Hope the baby ends up OK and gets to live a live with a loving family…
Anonymous says
He deserves the same treatment…….
flalgler1 says
A fine upstanding citizen.
Anonymous says
The mother should be charged too. She did nothing for this child to get m ducal attention. They both need to go to jail for a long long time and never be aloud to have kids
Anonymous says
Learned ingrained mentality. He can be angry all he wants in an 8X10. CYA
Mark says
I see another slap on the wrist coming. “May” take the second child from them? Give me a break. Both parents should be in jail and both childern should be in a safe place!
Really says
Some should never have children. This animal should get life.Prayers for the child.
GY says
Both children should be in protective custody. The mother’s home is not safe.
Anonymous says
They MAY take custody of the other child??? The “girlfriend” was a “girlfriend” first and no fit parent to this poor child. She should be charged as an accessory and not have guardianship of ANY children until she is found to be fully fit to parent.
Ts says
He should get the same treatment. If ppl don’t want kids the use protection. I mean I can’t stand ppl like this I believe in eye for a eye. You get what you give. I bet his mom is proud of what a poor excuse of a man she raised did to her grand babie and what the hell is wroung with the mothe she let this loser do that to her child. In the love of god dcf take the other child so nothing happens to that one
MannyHM says
A balanced justice in the hand of Lady Justice demands the same treatment be given to him. As the saying goes – A dose of his own medicine.
Ashley T says
Its the Step-mother, not the mother. I personally know the mother of the child and she does not live in that household
Susie says
I hope that child is safe and I pray that the child’s mother can be with her baby at this time no comment on the girlfriend or the child’s father I don’t know the whole story but I do know that God saw everything and whomever had something to do with this horrible crime will pay for it.
Layla says
This must not ever be left with a child ever again. This is so very sad.
Jenn says
Why doesn’t the mother have her children? Does she see what this animal did to her children? Does she not care? As a mother I would never leave my children at all with another woman and a animal like him. There is a reason the mother does not have her children.
Outsider says
Please, don’t refer to this man as the child’s “father;” he doesn’t deserve it. I think “accidental serial sperm donor” would be more appropriate. Take his man parts and dip them in molten lava. Oh wait, a lawyer will argue that’s cruel and unusual punishment. Never mind what bathing a child in boiling water is. This man makes me want to vomit.
GrGrMommy says
Sorry, this person (can not call him a man) deserves 30 years with daily baths in boiling water.
Want to know where the mother is and why this wasn’t stopped.
Anonymous says
God Forbid that the blood mother (and any live-in boyfriends) is actually potentially worse than the father and the girlfriend!
Born and Raised Here says
He needs to read the book Fatherhood by Bill Crosby
MannyHM says
To Anonymous, Indeed he should get a dose of his own medicine.
jim says
Yep…. and this dude(scum) votes and has an opinion on our society?