ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County deputies have arrested a man they say abused his 5-year-old son, who later died.
Darell Avant Sr., 26, has been charged with child abuse after deputies say he punished his 5-year-old son on Wednesday for misbehaving in school. Avant said the boy had recently been suspended from Pershing Elementary school for kicking a teacher.
According to the report, Avant brought his son back to their apartment where Avant spanked his son several times and ordered him to do push-ups and squats for 20 minutes.
Avant then told his son to take a shower and sometime after that, his son passed out face down, deputies said. After 25 minutes, Avant called a friend over to help and the friend began to do CPR.
When deputies arrived, the child was dead and had bruises on his torso, back and arms.
Deputies said more charges could be coming but they are waiting for the autopsy report to show a cause and manner of death.
Deputies spoke to the child's mother who says the boy didn't have any brusies on him when he went to school Wedensday morning.
Records show Avant has a history of domestic violence and has had 13 prior arrests, ranging from aggravated battery on a pregnant person to grand theft charges.