Deputies: Melbourne woman already wanted for child neglect found with toddler locked in motel closet

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard County deputies seeking a woman on warrants for child neglect say they came across an even more disturbing case of abuse when they finally found her.

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25-year-old Patricia Childress was first charged with child neglect after deputies serving an injunction in September found her living in extremely filthy conditions in an apartment with two children.

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Agents from the sheriff’s office fugitive unit tracked Childress to a motel in Melbourne Thursday where she was believed to be staying with another wanted person.

Deputies arrested Childress on her warrant, but while searching the room for the other suspect, investigators say they found a two-year-old child locked in a closet.

Deputies noted the closet had nothing but a pillow and a blanket inside and appeared to be barricaded from the outside to prevent the child from leaving.

According to Childress’ arrest report, the child had dried food on her face and hair and was only wearing a shirt that was completely covered in urine and feces.

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When confronted about the discovery, deputies say Childress tried to claim the child wanted to be in the closet, but later admitted she put her in there out of frustration.

According to the arrest report, another child in the room confirmed Childress would put the child in the closet regularly when she “acts up” and only lets her out when police show up.

“There are some things in this world that I will never understand, and then there are some things in this world that just tick me off,” Sheriff Wayne Ivey said in a statement. “As if being arrested for having committed child neglect is not bad enough, what our agents found inside the hotel room was even more disgusting and concerning.”

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In addition to the previous warrants for child neglect, Childress was charged with aggravated child abuse.

She was booked into the Brevard County jail Thursday and has since been released on a total of $17,000 bond.

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