‘Sprayed with vinegar’: Florida family arrested for abusing 9 youngsters; locked kids in cages, drugged and sexually assaulted

Brian Matthew Griffeth, 47, Jill Elizabeth Griffeth, 41, Dallin Russel Griffeth, 21, and Liberty Ann Griffeth, 19 (Image credit: X)

Four adults in Fort White, Florida, have been arrested for allegedly abusing 9 youngsters inside their dwelling, the place some had been locked in makeshift cages, sprayed with vinegar as punishment, and denied correct education. Brian Matthew Griffeth, 47, Jill Elizabeth Griffeth, 41, Dallin Russel Griffeth, 21, and Liberty Ann Griffeth, 19, had been taken into custody on July 22, following a July 3 wellness verify that exposed disturbing dwelling situations contained in the family’s cell dwelling situated in the deep woods of Columbia County, about 35 miles northwest of Gainesville.

Five of the kids are organic, whereas 4 had been adopted privately in Arizona. They vary in age from 7 to 16, in response to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office as reported by The New York Post.During the wellness verify, officers turned involved after noticing the 4 adopted youngsters had been doing chores, whereas the organic youngsters had been watching TV or taking part in. Investigators later uncovered disturbing types of punishment and management used on the kids.

Beaten, drugged, assaulted

The Griffeths allegedly caged youngsters beneath a bunk mattress by screwing in a chunk of plywood to entice them. One 14-year-old boy instructed investigators he was “routinely” locked in the bunk mattress cage for a lot of the day and night time and was solely set free for meals or when “he wants to play.” He stated he needed to maintain his bladder at night time till being launched in the morning, as quoted by The New York Post.The teen stated he was in the fourth grade, didn’t know his birthday, and had by no means been correctly educated. A 14-year-old lady additionally stated she was “illiterate” and hadn’t been to highschool in years.Investigators revealed extra abusive practices, together with Jill Griffeth forcing youngsters to lie on the ground and urgent a sheet of plywood on high of them, inflicting ache and splinters. Brian Griffeth allegedly beat the adopted and foster youngsters with a cane however averted leaving marks. The youngsters had been additionally given non-prescribed remedy and had been instructed to lie in regards to the dwelling’s situations.Court paperwork, obtained by Law & Crime, embrace allegations of sexual assault involving not less than one of many Griffeth adults, as reported by The NY Post.The family had moved from Arizona to Florida earlier in 2024. A tenth little one who had beforehand lived with the Griffeths as a foster little one was discovered protected with her organic mother and father in Arizona. Authorities stated the lady had moved to Florida with the family, however later contacted her mom, begging to be taken again.All 4 suspects had been booked into the Columbia county detention facility. Brian, Dallin, and Liberty Griffeth had been every held on $500,000 bonds. Jill Griffeth’s bond was listed at $1,500,000.The Florida division of youngsters and households eliminated all 9 youngsters from the house. Investigators with the Child Protection Team interviewed every little one earlier than the arrests had been made.