Palm Coast, FL - A Palm Coast father is charged with both Child Abuse and Child Neglect, both without causing great bodily harm. Flagler County Sheriff's deputies arrested 54-year-old Craig Ripple on the charges on Friday (April 24).
The investigation into Ripple began in August 2019, when the mother of the children, a 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, contacted FCSO. She told investigators that she suspected Ripple of hiding clothing and other belongings of the children and that he was tampering with the boy's medication. The mother also had security camera footage of Ripple pouring water on the girl's bed and taking a dress from her closet. She said that she found numerous items, suchas library books, jewelry, clothing and homework in the trunk of Ripple's vehicle.
The mother also checked the boy's medication of Lithium and found that several capsules had been tampered with. They were filled with small pink pills with a black number "5" on them. She "googled" them and found that they were a laxative.
Investigators had the mother conduct two 'controled calls' with Ripple where he admitted to pouring water on his daughter's bed, stealing items and tampering with his son's medication. He told her that he did these things "out of spite" and because he felt disrespected.
A warrant was issued for Ripple on April 24. He was arrested and booked into the Flagler County Jail on a $7,500 bond. He was able to bond out about 30 minutes after being booked. The victims have since moved out of state and are no longer in contact with the suspect.
