Elizabeth Bliss, a 36-year-old resident of South Daytona Avenue in Flagler Beach, is facing a felony child abuse charge and a charge of aggravated battery on a person 65 or older–a first degree felony–after she allegedly pinned her 4-year-old daughter to the ground and grabbed and slapped her 71-year-old mother.
The incident took place Sunday evening. Bliss, who had recently separated from her husband–she had an injunction against him, which has since expired–was living with her children in a separate dwelling attached to her mother’s house.
Her mother told Flagler Beach police that she was hearing what sounded like her granddaughter screaming in pain. Out of concern, Bliss’s mother rushed over and walked through the door, which was not locked. She then “observed in a small playroom [Bliss] crouched down” or “on her knees,” putting “all her weight” on top of the 4-year-old girl’s hands, which were flattened on the floor.
Bliss was startled. She and her mother began arguing. The argument escalated. According to her mother, Bliss grabbed the older woman’s arm, resulting in an injury the police report describes as a “gulf-ball size purple bruise” an inch above the right elbow. Bliss then allegedly slapped her mother, took the 4 year old and her 1-year-old boy and left the house. She had gone to an acquaintance’s place but when she saw emergency lights, she returned about 20 minutes later with both children, who had been shoeless.
She denied harming her child, on whose hands police saw no sign of injury. Bliss said the child had been messing with a seat belt. A Flagler County Fire Rescue unit examined both children for injuries and treated Bliss’s mother.
Bliss was charged with aggravated battery on a person older than 65, a first degree felony, and child abuse, a third-degree felony. Both charges are likely to be downgraded as the case wends its way through felony court.
But Bliss is facing a separate charge of illegal possession of suboxone, dating back to July. She was out on $2,000 bond. That bond was revoked today, which means that although she is now facing an additional $12,500 bond on the new charges, she may not be released, since she is being held on no bond on the previous charge, until a judge revisits that case.
Bliss is scheduled for a pre-trial on the drug charge before County Judge Melissa Distler on Jan. 3. She is scheduled for arraignment on the felony charges before Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols on Jan. 7. Meanwhile, Judge Andrea Totten has issued a no-contact order that forbids Bliss from living with or near, or coming near, her mother and both her children, pending further motions before the court. The Department of Children and Families was brought in after the incident. Bliss was also ordered to surrender all firearms to the Sheriff’s Office.
SocietySays says
Her parental rights have already been stripped from the first 4 kids she had….did we expect a different outcome?
Florida Girl says
Good! Let her sit! She should be ashamed of herself although I know she isn’t. My heart goes to grandma and the babe. I hope they don’t divide them apart.
Aesop says
Ignorance is…..
Ninety nine felonies says
2 felonies is nothing, hell we have people with 34 felony convictions and never spent a single night in jail. Guess she just needs some money for defense.
Lance Carroll says
TRAIN WRECK!
Neighbor/Friend says
She’s a very hardworking mother and takes good care of her babies. Her mother often calls the cops on her over minor arguments. Her mother also calls the ambulance multiple times a month for medical issues. She probably already had the bruises, since she falls and her skin is paper thin. Her mother is extremely mentally abusive and uses the police against her daughter for everything.
Beth has come a long way from where she was in her early adult years. Her children were not harmed. She does not abuse them. The police state no bruises on the children, all they have is the lies her mother says.
If you know Beth personally you know that she works very hard for her family and has many obstacles to overcome. She has a big heart and gives back to the community the best she can. She volunteers in church every Sunday and always helps a friend in need.
The officers in our area have been known to overcharge people so more likely sentencing will stick and the people that have nothing have to pay more into the system. Beth has been cornered into more system traps than one person can handle, but she always bounces back because she is always doing her best for her children.
As a mother, can you imagine losing your children? She has lived through it and survived and has made the most beautiful children and has been bringing them up to the best of her ability. Anyone who has an opinion on someone else’s life without knowing the person or the daily truth they live, should keep their biased thoughts to themselves. Life is hard enough.
Beth is a good person and a good mother, she just hasn’t had a way to get out because of circumstances. The system keeps piling more on top of her and her mother is not helpful in any way. Hence why the babies are not with her mother right now “grandma.” Grandma won’t even hug those babies, cause she acts like it’ll break her bones and she’ll fall over.