Florida Family Brian & Jill Griffeth Arrested for Child Abuse in Fort White
Four Adults Arrested for Abusing Nine Children in Florida
Four adults from Florida are accused of severely mistreating nine children, some of whom they reportedly kept locked in makeshift cages and subjected to harmful punishments inside a mobile home in Fort White.
The investigation began after a church official reported that one of the children was armed with a real electric stun gun at a camp in Branford. Initially claiming the device was a toy, the adults later acknowledged it was authentic, prompting authorities to scrutinize the family’s living conditions.
During a welfare check, authorities found the four foster children working chores while their biological siblings relaxed or watched TV. The parents allegedly moved the family from Arizona to Florida, where they continued abusive practices, which included caging children under a bunk bed with plywood, spraying vinegar as punishment, and giving them non-prescribed medication.
One 14-year-old told investigators he was frequently confined underneath the bunk bed, with a piece of plywood screwed in place to prevent escape. He reported being trapped most of the day and night, only allowed out for meals and brief playtime, and had to hold his urine until released.
Additional allegations include physical abuse, with one parent reportedly beating children with a cane without leaving visible marks, while also forcing them to lie about their living situation and denying proper education in reading and writing. Many of the children were reported to be illiterate and lacking basic schooling.
One girl, 14, had previously lived with the family but was living unharmed with her biological parents in Arizona. She had contacted her mother to request rescue. Court documents also accused one of the adults of sexual assault against a child.
The four adults—Brain Griffeth (47), Jill Griffeth (41), Dallin Griffeth (21), and Liberty Griffeth (19)—were detained and face charges of aggravated child abuse with bonds set at up to $1.5 million for Jill. The children were removed from the home after questioning by child protection authorities.
The mobile home, built in 2001 and last sold in March 2024, was located in a remote area of Columbia County, Florida.