Story perspectives

Florida Parents Charged in Infant's Death Cover-Up

4/11/2026

Center

Father's Cover-Up Charges

In Florida, Anfernee Watts, a 25-year-old father, faces charges for allegedly covering up his 3-week-old son's death.
Investigators say Watts fabricated a story to mislead them after the infant suffocated.
Crystal Garcia, Watts's partner, is charged with aggravated manslaughter and child neglect.
Investigators cite a video showing Garcia with a garbage bag before calling 911.
Both parents are held without bond, and Watts's mother has custody of a 2-year-old daughter.

Right

Father Faces Charges

French authorities charged a father for confining his nine-year-old son to a van for more than a year after police found malnourished boy in Hagenbach on April 6.
The father admitted the confinement, saying he sought to protect the child from psychiatric admission.
In Maryland, Lascelle Lee was indicted for involuntary manslaughter after his six-year-old son shot himself with an unsecured firearm on February 17, and he faces neglect charges.

History

Historical Context

The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), enacted in 1988, aimed to combat rising child abuse cases in the U.S. by providing federal funding and establishing a National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect. By 1993, reported cases increased by 25%. Recent incidents in Florida and France reveal ongoing challenges in child welfare, emphasizing the need for continued reform and vigilance.

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Father's Cover-Up Charges

In Florida, Anfernee Watts, a 25-year-old father, faces charges for allegedly covering up his 3-week-old son's death.
Investigators say Watts fabricated a story to mislead them after the infant suffocated.
Crystal Garcia, Watts's partner, is charged with aggravated manslaughter and child neglect.
Investigators cite a video showing Garcia with a garbage bag before calling 911.
Both parents are held without bond, and Watts's mother has custody of a 2-year-old daughter.

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