Two Flomaton parents originally charged with felony counts of torture and willful abuse of a child under the age of 18 by a responsible person now also face attempted murder charges, after prosecutors added the count Wednesday based on evidence gathered during the investigation.
Eric Douglas McClure, 41, and Cynthia Danielle Tedder, 36, of Titi Street, were arrested Tuesday in Pensacola on warrants obtained by the Flomaton Police Department. They are being held without bond in Florida while awaiting extradition to the Escambia County Jail in Brewton, Alabama.
How the Case Began
The Flomaton Police Department was contacted by authorities in Florida at approximately 5:13 a.m. on Sept. 1 regarding a juvenile from Flomaton who had been transported to Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola in critical condition.
“We got a call here at dispatch at the PD from Pensacola PD, basically saying that they had a child juvenile, actually a 15-year-old, that had some child abuse, possible issues going on or neglect, and so we started investigating,” Flomaton Police Chief Justin Hetrick said.
Investigators traveled to Pensacola to begin the investigation. Information gathered there led back to Flomaton and to the residence where the juvenile lived.
The Search Warrant
Members of the Flomaton Police Department obtained and executed a search warrant at the Titi Street residence on Tuesday afternoon.
“Information obtained led to an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the juvenile’s condition,” Hetrick said. “As part of the investigation, members of the Flomaton Police Department obtained and executed a search warrant at the residence where the juvenile lived.”
Without going into detail, Hetrick said “the living conditions were not well at that residence.”
The search led to arrest warrants for the juvenile’s parents. McClure and Tedder were taken into custody in Pensacola.
The Upgraded Charges
The original charges — torture and willful abuse of a child under 18 years of age by a responsible person — were expanded Wednesday to include attempted murder.
“The Flomaton Police Department continues to work closely with the Escambia County District Attorney’s Office in the ongoing recent child abuse investigation,” Hetrick said. “Based on newly obtained evidence, both suspects have now also been charged with attempted murder. These charges were filed as a result of developments uncovered during the course of the investigation.”
Hetrick described the timing of the decision. “Working with the district attorney today, talking to him, Mr. Steve Billy, we updated and added two new charges,” he said. “Actually, one charge but for both subjects to attempted murder.”
The pair appeared in video court Tuesday afternoon, shortly after the district attorney added the new count.
Escambia County District Attorney Steve Billy said that if convicted of attempted murder, the couple would face a possible sentence of 10 years to life in prison.
Other Children Removed From the Home
The Escambia County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office confirmed that other children were living at the home. They are now in the care of the Alabama Department of Human Resources.
DHR custody in a case like this is an emergency protective placement, ordered when authorities determine a home is unsafe for the children in it. It is separate from the criminal case and proceeds on its own track in juvenile court, where the questions before a judge concern the children’s placement and welfare rather than the parents’ criminal liability.
A Neighbor’s Account
A neighbor who has known the family for years, and who asked to remain anonymous, said he had seen other children living at the home and described conditions he found alarming.
“There were roaches just running out,” the neighbor said. “And I seen their kids. They were filthy.”
He said his concern had been building for some time. “From the times that I’ve seen them in public places, such as Walmart or local grocery stores, they always had a smell coming from them,” he said. “And I can tell they were not very clean at all.”
The neighbor said he wishes he had reported what he saw sooner, and expressed relief that the case is now being handled by authorities.
“I just hope the best for the kids,” he said. “And my honesty, I hope that they get taken. If they have to go and foster care, I’m sure they’re gonna have a loving family that’s going to love them. And they’ll probably experience a lot they’ve never had before.”
Reporting Suspected Abuse
The neighbor’s regret points to a broader issue in cases like this one. Alabama law does not require an ordinary citizen to be certain that abuse is occurring before making a report — only that there is reasonable cause to suspect it. Investigating agencies, not reporters, are responsible for determining whether the concern is founded.
Reports of suspected child abuse or neglect in Alabama can be made to the county Department of Human Resources office or to local law enforcement. Certain professionals, including teachers, medical personnel and social workers, are mandatory reporters under state law.
The Investigation Continues
Hetrick said the case remains an active investigation and that no further information would be released at this time, in order to protect the integrity of the investigation and the privacy of the juvenile involved.
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact Lt. Thaihee Staples at the Flomaton Police Department at 251-296-5811.
McClure and Tedder remain in custody in Florida pending extradition to Alabama, where they are to be booked into the Escambia County Jail in Brewton. As with any criminal case, the charges are allegations, and both are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.