Florida waitress calls police after witnessing family withhold food from boy covered in bruises

A waitress from Florida is being credited with saving an 11-year-old boy from an allegedly abusive home.

“Do you need help?”

While working at Mrs. Potato Restaurant in Orlando, Florida on New Year’s Day in 2021, Flavaine Carvalho noticed a young boy sitting at a table with two adults.

She paid attention to how the customer, Timothy Wilson II, did not allow the 11-year-old boy to order any food. Carvalho also observed bruises on the child’s face and arms.

In order to avoid causing a scene, she created a sign asking if the boy needed help and stood behind the boy’s parents.

He signaled yes.

Carvalho immediately called the police.

According to WESH, Wilson, the boy’s stepfather, was arrested on third-degree child abuse charges.

The boy told police he had ratchet straps fastened to his ankles and neck and he was hung upside down from a door. He was also hit with a broom and handcuffed to a moving dolly.

As punishment, Wilson withheld food.

Days after Carvalho contacted police, Wilson was arrested again and charged with several counts of aggravated child abuse and child neglect. The boy’s mother, Kristen Swann, admitted to knowing about the abuse and was arrested and charged with two counts of child neglect.

Bless Flavaine for taking notice and saying something.

It is absolutely horrible what this boy had to endure, hopefully he will never have to live in fear again. The fact that this woman was not selfish and helped the child amazes me. We need more people like this.

Share this post and thank Flavaine for speaking up.