“We just tried to do the best”: Woman avoids prison despite ‘imprisoning’ adopted child with disorder in a garage without sunlight for years
Jacksonville, Florida – A Florida mother, will not face prison time despite pleading guilty to severe charges of child neglect involving her adopted son. The case has drawn significant attention due to the disturbing conditions under which the child was kept.
Tracy F., 48, along with her husband, Timothy F., faced allegations of keeping their 14-year-old adopted in a makeshift confinement within their home’s garage. The boy was reportedly forced to live in a windowless 8-foot by 8-foot box, equipped only with a bed, a bucket, and a camera for monitoring. His only respite from these conditions was his daily attendance at school. The situation came to light after the teenager ran away from home, and the subsequent police investigation led to the arrest of both Tracy and Timothy in February 2022. While Timothy was convicted on charges of aggravated child abuse, false imprisonment, and child neglect last October, receiving a five-year prison sentence, the outcome for Tracy was markedly different.
During a recent court hearing, Tracy acknowledged her guilt on felony charges, which included aggravated child abuse and false imprisonment. She expressed to the court, “We were living a life that’s not what is portrayed in the media. There was a lot of things that nobody knew. We were a completely loving family. I love my kids. We just tried to do the best that we could with what we had.”
Her defense highlighted the couple’s struggles with the boy’s behavioral issues, attributing them to Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), a condition they claimed led to violent outbursts. The couple adopted their son from a Vietnamese orphanage during his toddler years, and according to Tracy’s statement, the couple found themselves unprepared for the challenges that followed. Circuit Court Judge Howard Coates issued a sentence for Tracy that includes 10 years of probation and 300 hours of community service. Additionally, she is required to undergo a mental health evaluation, and attend anger management and parenting classes. Crucially, she is barred from contacting both her husband and her son.
Marc Shiner, Tracy’s defense attorney, remarked on the uniqueness of her case compared to her husband’s, stating, “It was a completely different case than what was presented through her husband’s case. Even though she had a very good chance of being exonerated, she really wanted to put this to rest so her children could have some peace.” The ruling has sparked discussions on parental responsibility, the challenges of adopting children with special needs, and the appropriate measures for addressing severe behavioral problems. This case serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities involved in child welfare within the legal framework.
