COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. – Four adults with nine children were accused of child abuse after an investigation by the Department of Children and Families and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
Arrest warrants said that the abuse allegations happened at a home in Fort White, Florida. Of the nine children, five are biological and four are adopted, aging from 7 to 16 years old.
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The DCF investigation started because it learned that one of the adopted children from the Griffeth family brought a taser to a church camp. After that, the staff contacted a woman at the church who reported additional concerns about the Griffeth children.
She said that the Griffeths recently relocated from Arizona to Florida with the foster children in their care. The woman also said that the Griffith family primarily adopts Black children and was concerned that they are being treated unfairly.
DCF visited the home to interview the family regarding the accusations. Officials said the adopted children were working on chores while the biological children were playing or watching TV.
There is a 10th foster child who wasn’t present, but was with their biological parent in Arizona, safe and healthy.
Columbia County deputies were contacted, and they appeared with a DCF court order to take their children into custody.
Detectives observed the interview of the children with DCF and a 14-year-old who reported being in the fourth grade. He couldn’t give his birthday, and he had limited literacy skills.
He disclosed that he would be caged under the bottom of the bunk bed either by his mother, father, or some of the other kids. He said that a piece of plywood is placed over the entrance to the bed and it is screwed in, preventing him from getting out. He also said that if he needed to use the bathroom at night, he would need to wait until the next day.
He also said that his mother would have him lie on the floor and she would press the plywood sheet onto his chest and back as a form of punishment, resulting in splinters. He showed several scars from the punishment.
He also told DCF that he would be sprayed in the face with vinegar.
Another 14-year-old said that she didn’t know her grade level and that she hadn’t been to school for years.
Dallin Russell Griffeth was charged with one count of felony aggravated child abuse.
Jill Griffeth was charged with three counts of felony aggravated child abuse.
Brian Matthew Griffeth was charged with one count of felony aggravated child abuse.
Liberty Griffeth was charged with one count of felony aggravated child abuse.
DCF became involved and investigated the Griffeth family because of a mandatory reporter in Florida. The adoption process was done privately in Arizona before they moved to Florida.
Due to the implementation of mandatory reporting here in Florida, a report was made, an investigation was conducted, and the children were removed from the home.