Police: Couple Made Boy Sleep With Dog

Lake County Parents Arrested On Abuse Charges

TAVARES, Fla. -- A Central Florida couple was arrested Friday on accusations that they made their 6-year-old son sleep in the laundry room with the family dog and occasionally eat in the garage, according to police.

Tavares police arrested 46-year-old Mikelann Renwick and her husband, 55-year-old Steven Renwick, on charges of child abuse after rushing their child to the hospital.

Police said the couple took their 6-year-old adopted son to the hospital and told hospital staff the boy had a seizure.

However, once the child was examined by a doctor, they found a number of cuts and bruises on the child's body, police said.

According to police, Mikelann Renwick said the child fell down the stairs at their home, located on Etowah Park Boulevard, just east of Lake Eustis in Lake County.

Police then proceeded to call the Department of Children and Families.

DCF interviewed the couple's other two children and were told that their mother had used a "switch" to spank them on many occasions.

DCF said the children also told them that their mother would force the 6-year-old to stay in the family's garage on occasion for lunch and dinner.

Police said the couple later admitted to keeping the child in the garage because he couldn't control his bladder.

The child would also be forced to sleep in the laundry room with the family dog, police said.

The victim, along with his three other siblings are now in DCF custody.