In Florida, a dad has been found guilty of child abuse and other charges for locking his adopted son in a room that he had a contractor build in their garage, where he'd even drop in food and provide a bucket for a bathroom.
Timothy Ferriter, 48, was convicted of aggravated child abuse, false imprisonment, and neglect of a child for the mistreatment he subjected the boy to. Jurors in Palm Beach County took a little over two and a half hours to reach a guilty verdict.
The man was initially arrested on February 8, 2022, on charges of child abuse and false imprisonment, and his wife, Tracy Ferriter, was also charged at the same time. Their trials were separated upon the request of the husband's defense attorney, who cited inconsistencies in the wife's statements during the investigation.
Evidence presented during the trial and confirmed by the police indicated that the room where the child was kept was a mere 8-by-8 feet. The boy could go to school but spent the rest of his day confined to the tiny space, with meals brought to him and a bucket for his bathroom needs.
The child had to clean the bucket himself and claimed he was physically abused. The investigation into the couple began as a case of a runaway child.
On January 28, 2022, the boy was reported missing, and two days later, officers visited the Ferriters' residence to check on the child's status. The couple appeared reluctant to let law enforcement inside but eventually allowed them in. An officer described the small room inside the garage in detail.
Reports eventually came in that the boy had returned to school, and officers questioned him about his home life, to which he responded that he felt unloved, leading to his decision to run away.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that the boy had been kept in a similar room with no freedom of movement or access to lights since he was 11 years old when the family lived in Arizona.
The defense argued that the defendant was forced to make "tough choices" due to the boy's "reactive attachment disorder" and aggressive behavior, but the jury didn't buy this explanation.
Timothy Ferriter's sentencing is scheduled for November 16, and he could face up to 30 years in prison for the combined charges. He turned down a plea deal earlier this year, which offered a 24-month prison term, contingent on his wife accepting the same deal. However, she never did.
Tracy Ferriter's trial, initially set for late September, was canceled, and a new trial date is yet to be scheduled, according to Palm Beach County court records.
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