WAKULLA COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - A couple is facing child abuse charges after police say they locked a 6-year-old child in a small laundry room because the child was “demon possessed.”
A months-long investigation has led to the arrest of Ashley Groover and Norris Groover for felony child abuse.
On August 25, 2017, the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint that Ashley Groover and her husband, Norris Groover, were abusing and neglecting a 6-year-old child.
Authorities immediately removed the child, as well as five others, from that environment and detectives initiated an investigation.
Through many interviews, detectives determined that Ashley Groover, with the consent of Norris Groover, would lock the 6-year-old child in a small laundry room because the child was “demon possessed” or as punishment, and always made the child sleep in the laundry room at night.
Multiple children in the home confirmed that the 6-year-old was required to sleep alone on the floor in the laundry room without a blanket or a pillow and that they would bring food and water in to her.
Another child in the home stated that even though the 6-year-old was scared of dogs, a pit bull was caged in the laundry room with the 6-year-old.
When asked to describe how often the young child was locked in the laundry room, one sibling stated, "When [the 6-year-old] gets off the school bus in the day time."
WCSO says the 6-year-old was allowed to play outside one day each week or month. One sibling said they sometimes heard the child talking in the laundry room, "pretending to have tea parties."
Even though the other five children in the home were taught to mistreat the 6-year-old, they would secretly be kind toward the child. One child in the home told investigators, “Sometimes I would try to sneak something in there for [the 6-year-old child] at night... like toys and candy."
Another child reported receiving toys from their teacher’s treasure box at school and secretly giving those toys to the 6-year-old.
In November 2017, detectives interrogated Ashley and Norris Groover, both of whom denied the allegations.
In January 2018, deputies interviewed adults who had visited the home and reported that the 6-year-old was excluded from family photographs and adults who visited the home were never allowed to see the child.
When asked where the child was, the Groovers would provide various excuses.
On Thursday, detectives obtained arrest warrants for Ashley Groover and Norris Groover charging them with felony child abuse with infliction of physical and mental injury. They were both arrested that same day and booked into the Wakulla County Jail.
