A 5-year-old girl died after her mother and stepfather allegedly subjected her to prolonged abuse, authorities said. The tragic incident unfolded on May 19 when Tallahassee police responded to a distress call in the 4100 block of Kipling Court, where they found the child unresponsive.
Officers arrived to find the girl’s grandfather performing CPR on 5-year-old Missy Mogle. Her mother, 23-year-old Chloe Spencer, and stepfather, 35-year-old Daniel Spencer, claimed Missy had “behavioral issues” and would “hold her breath during tantrums to manipulate her parents.” They told police she had a tantrum that morning, prompting Daniel Spencer to leave her standing in her bedroom before later discovering her unresponsive, WCTV reported.
Emergency responders noted “suspicious bruising and injury patterns” on Missy’s body, suggesting long-term abuse. She was pronounced dead at the hospital, with an autopsy revealing she was malnourished. Investigators later uncovered disturbing security footage from the girl’s bedroom, allegedly showing Daniel Spencer “hitting her, violently pulling her arms, shoving her face into a bed, binding her feet and hands together, and covering her with pillows and comforters.” Blood was found on her bedding.
Additional photos reportedly showed Chloe Spencer “standing over [her daughter], who was on her bed in the fetal position, while Chloe held an object over her head as if she was preparing to hit [her].” Court records state Chloe admitted to striking Missy with a shoe.
The case has drawn outrage, particularly due to Daniel Spencer’s criminal history. Last year, he was arrested in a sting operation and charged with multiple child sex crimes, including traveling to meet a minor. He was convicted last month and was out on bail awaiting sentencing at the time of Missy’s death.
Records also revealed that Tallahassee Police had previously investigated allegations that Daniel sexually abused Missy, but no charges were filed due to insufficient evidence. Both parents now face charges of second-degree murder, aggravated battery on a child, child neglect with great bodily harm, and failure to report child abuse.
A judge barred them from contacting witnesses or minors, including their other children. Daniel Spencer is scheduled for a June 6 court hearing after entering a conditional not-guilty plea. Chloe Spencer, who also pleaded not guilty, has a motion hearing set for Friday. The case has left the community grieving as questions swirl over how such abuse went unchecked.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
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