Escambia Woman Pleads In Mentally Disabled Daughter Abuse Case

October 10, 2012

An Escambia County woman has pleaded no contest to charges that she abused her mentally disabled daughter.

DeeAnne Hale, 58, entered a plea of no contest to three counts of felony abuse of a disabled adult, according to the State Attorney’s Office.

On April 12, law enforcement discovered that the woman had been forced to wear a signboard that read “I am a liar and a theif” (sic) around her neck. She was forced to repeatedly walk the perimeter of a backyard pool allegedly as punishment for  “stealing” candy from food the family claimed was for the homeless.

The sign was made of two pieces of wet plywood, approximately 3-foot squared, being held around her neck with two heavy metal chains. Deputies asked the girl to kneel down and were able to remove the signs, which  were estimated to weigh about 40 pounds. Due to the weight of the signs the chain had slightly embedded into the victim’s neck, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

The woman had also suffered a lacerated scalp which had been stitched closed with a common sewing needle and thread. Further investigation into the woman’s treatment revealed that during the previous 12 months, she had been forced to stay outside 24 hours a day for days on in and deprived of adequate shelter, food and medical attention, according to the State Attorney’s Office.

DeeAnne Hale’s husband, Rondal Hale, was previously convicted of four counts of aggravated abuse of a disabled adult and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Judge Michael Allen scheduled DeeAnne Hale to be sentenced on November 8. Co-defendant Clinton Michael Carr pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated
abuse of a disabled adult and battery; he will also be sentenced on November 8.

Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

8 Responses to “Escambia Woman Pleads In Mentally Disabled Daughter Abuse Case”

  1. melanie on October 11th, 2012 3:12 pm

    I read this and im in total disgust i have a special needs daughter and i dont even want to imagine what trauma that child was going through when her own fleshing bloods would do that to her i am glad these people will never see this child again..they need to walk around the prison quarters with the same thing for 40 days and nights and suffer to.

  2. Jane on October 11th, 2012 9:35 am

    There is no excuse for mistreating another human being, much less one who can’t defend herself.

  3. Appalled on October 11th, 2012 8:56 am

    15 years? Not enough time! Anyone that does this to a mentally disabled person should get 30 years to life. Where’s the justice?

  4. lovesglass on October 10th, 2012 12:55 pm

    How about putting heavy signs on them and have them walk around the prison yard all day and night for 40 days! Let them see how it feels. This girl wasn’t even able to help herself and GOD says we should look out for the weak and help them. Mr. & Ms. Hale will have to answer to a higher power some day soon.

  5. disgusted! on October 10th, 2012 12:45 pm

    I am just appalled! how could anyone do that to their DISABLED child?! that makes me sick!

  6. Kay on October 10th, 2012 8:20 am

    What happened to protecting your children? The Dad got 15 years , maybe the Mother will get at least that……and Mr. Carr, I hope you get the same!!!!

  7. 429SCJ on October 10th, 2012 5:33 am

    Walking the circle with that heavy sign, sounds like something out of Dante’s Divine Comedy.

    Mrs Hale all I can tell you is there is no greater sorrow, than to be mindful of the happy time, in misery.

  8. countywide on October 10th, 2012 4:50 am

    I hope no other childern are ever put in her care!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News