JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — UPDATE 1/8/2022: Action News Jax has learned Alexandra Ebey has now been charged with aggravated child abuse. Her child was found malnourished and injured by police in Dec. of 2021.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A child was removed from a Jacksonville home and taken to a hospital to be treated for malnourishment and injuries, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Officers were called out to the residence on Tuesday, Dec. 14, to assist the Department of Children and Families with locating the child.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Some viewers may find the details of this article disturbing.
During their investigation, JSO said Alexandra Ebey, 37, who Action News Jax has learned is the child’s mother, walked up to the residence and said the child was using the bathroom and would be outside shortly.
When the child came outside, the arrest report stated that the child was “extremely weak and emaciated” and had open wounds on her body.
The report said the child also had “parts of skin falling off of her body.”
Ebey said the girl got the injuries from playing, according to JSO.
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Medical personnel with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department arrived at the home and after seeing the child’s condition, they said it was obvious that the child was being neglected and not cared for.
The girl was taken to a hospital, where she told a detective that she had been locked in a closet while she was handcuffed and tied down. She had been in the closet for 25 days and was just let out six days ago, the police report stated. The child was given a bucket to use the bathroom in the closet as well.
The report states the child had injuries that were consistent with being handcuffed for a long period of time.
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JSO arrested Ebey because of the condition of the child. She faces a felony child neglect charge.
Action News Jax reporter Kristen Rary spoke to the neighbor who called police after she hadn’t seen the girl.
The neighbor said she has known Ebey’s four kids for years. After seeing their health decline and not seeing the girl for nearly a month, she called police, fearing the worst.
“You could see ribs, you could see malnutrition, patches in their hair, bites all over them. It all varies with them honestly. All I could do is just, report it,” the neighbor told Rary.
The neighbor said seeing the little girl come outside was hard, but she’s happy she is now safe.
“Heartbreaking. Definitely, heartbreaking. Overwhelming,” she said.
Ebey is not eligible for bond.