DeLand, FL - A couple is facing felony child abuse charges after police found them using drugs near a two-year-old girl inside of a bug-infested car.
DeLand police found the car around 5:30 yesterday afternoon (June 25th) near a small park off of South Stone Street and West Highland Avenue. The vehicle was turned off and officers said the temperature outside was at 104 degrees.
According to police, the officer saw three occupants inside. Two adults and one child.
After about 10 minutes, the officer approached the car to ask the occupants, 30-year-old David Dexter and 28-year-old Christian Wilson, if they needed assistance because of the hot temperature outside.
But, when the officer approached, Dexter made movements as if he were attempting to hide something.
During their conversation, the officer noticed drug paraphernalia in plain view on both Dexter and Wilson. That's when the investigation began.
Throughout his search, the officer found several used needles as well as other paraphernalia used to prepare narcotics for injection. One of those needles was fully loaded. A bottle cap containing a substance ready for injection was also found.
Both the substance in the needle and the bottle cap were identified as opioids.
Dexter and Wilson were both ordered out of the car before the officer found more paraphernalia in Wilson's person.
The officer also observed the child, who was walking around freely inside the vehicle without shoes, only in a shirt and a soiled diaper. The child also had numerous scabs on her legs and another on her neck that had attracted insects.
The inside of the vehicle also contained several species of insects, including roaches, that were climbing across the seat near the child. Several opened and spoiled food containers, dirty diapers and soiled clothing was also found.
DeLand Fire personnel responded and medically cleared the child, who was turned over to a responsible family member, according to police.
Dexter admitted to DeLand police that the substances in the needle and cap were Dilaudid that he and Wilson purchased illegally with the child in the vehicle.
He also explained that the wound on the child's neck occurred when the child accidentally bumped into someone's lit cigarette in Downtown DeLand. He also admitted to he and Wilson injecting narcotics while in the child's presence.
Dexter and Wilson were both charged with felony child abuse, possession of a schedule II substance and one misdemeanor charge of drug paraphernalia possession.
Both remain in Volusia County Jail on $5,500 bond.
