Father arrested for beating 12-year-old boy; taping his mouth

PORT ST. LUCIE --Police arrested a man last night for beating his adopted 12-year-old son with an extension cord.

Walter Watts, 48, has been charged with child abuse. His wife, Beverly Jean Hutchings-Watts, 42, both of Port St. Lucie, was arrested Thursday.

Both are out on bond.

Police said they found the boy Sunday midnight, wandering about a mile and half from home wearing pajamas and bare feet. He said he was headed to his aunt's house. He told police he ran away from home after being "whooped" by his father. His father, Walter Watts, 48, has not yet been charged.

Police found many bruises on the boy's body: across his abdomen, back, below his buttocks and back of his legs.

The boy told police he was beaten with an electrical cord for having food and drinks in his room. He also told police he was frequently forced to sleep on the concrete floor in the garage.

But police did not that during the police interview, the boy had a tendency to exaggerate "as if trying to make his story more believable."

Police also uncovered, during the course of the investigation, that the boy had a documented history of "defiance, lying, manipulation, aggression when he didn't get his way, and other behavioral problems."

When asked, the boy's mother said she hit her son with a belt, but not an extension cord.

Two younger children are in the process of being adopted by the couple, they were also living in the home and did not appear to be injured.

Police said the injured boy had been living with his adopted parents about three years.