An abusive stepdad who was caught thanks to a quick-thinking waitress has been sentenced to life in prison.
Timothy Lee Wilson, 36, visited Mrs. Potato restaurant in Orlando, Florida, with his family - including his young stepson - on New Year’s Day this year, but server Flaviane Carvalho became concerned about the boy after no one ordered food for him and she noticed scratches and bruises on his arms.
Worried by what she saw, the heroic waitress grabbed a piece of paper and wrote a quick note reading: “Do you need help?” and held it up while standing behind the 11-year-old’s unknowing parents.
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The youngster bravely shook his head and Carvalho called the police, telling the call-handler: “I’m super concerned and I don’t know what to do, can you give me some advice?”
“The boy is with bruises and he’s not eating.”
Cops launched an investigation and found that the child had been subjected to horrific abuse at the hands of his step-dad Wilson, including being hung upside down from a door on Christmas Day.
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Carvalho was hailed a hero by police, with Orlando Chief of Police Orlando Rolón saying: “We probably would’ve been talking about a potential homicide investigation if she had not intervened when she did.”
Carvalho told NBC "I was used like a tool from God to help him.
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"We need to pay attention for the ones that are in need, and step forward to do something to change the situation."
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At trial, sickening details of the abuse was revealed, with the state attorney’s office saying the boy was regularly deprived of food and drink and was ‘tortured, maliciously punished’.
Speaking in court, Carvalho said: "I could see he had a big scratch between his eyebrows.
"Couple of minutes later, I saw a bruise on the side of his eye. So I felt there was something really wrong."
In June, Wilson was found guilty of false imprisonment, aggravated child abuse and child neglect and on Friday (19 August) he was sentenced to several life terms.
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The boy’s mother, Kristin Swann, was also charged with neglect - her case is still pending.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 8am–10pm Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm weekends. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111
Claire Reid