Mom accused of filling daughter’s bottle with bleach

A Florida woman was arrested and charged with child abuse and neglect after police received reports in January that she allegedly fed her 13-month-old daughter with a bottle filled with bleach. Melissa Barnes was arrested and cited, in accordance with a June 4 press release.

Barnes claimed it was just that used bleach for rinsing baby bottles. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said a relative filed a police report that Barnes and her daughter were living in a shed without electricity that was “cold, cluttered and unsanitary” on the time. When the relative tried to feed Barnes’ daughter, he realized there was bleach within the bottle.

The discovery prompted a police investigation into the house and ultimately the Department of Children and Families removed the kid from Barnes and placed him within the care of a responsible relative.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and a Florida detective discovered that the shed contained “bleach-based disinfectant and paint,” and the FBI crime lab confirmed that the bottle contained “chlorine-based bleach.”

Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a press release: “This case is deeply disturbing. No child deserves to be subjected to such dangerous and neglectful conditions.”

The statement continued: “The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is committed to protecting the most vulnerable people in our community, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that those who harm children are held accountable.”

Barnes was arrested and placed in police custody by the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office on June 3 after warrants were issued for Barnes’ arrest. Sbed is within the Highland County Jail awaiting extradition pending the investigation.

If you believe you studied child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453 or visit www.childhelp.org. All calls are free and confidential.