Accused child abuser: My kids are "begging" to come home

By Adam Freeman

SPRING HILL, Florida-- Freshly bonded out of jail Tuesday morning, a Spring Hill man accused of abusing his adopted special needs son so badly he nearly died, defended himself.

"I love my children. I love them," a crying Ronald White said.

Investigators say White gave the 16-year-old a black eye and bruises all over his body.

With two adopted girls also living in the house, Hernando County deputies say the boy was forced to drink a gallon of water and was locked up until he went to the bathroom on himself.

An arrest report states things got so bad the boy collapsed when his organs shut down and his body went into shock.

"I made a simple mistake and I apologize for what I did," White said.

When asked by 10 News what he did, White responded, "I can't tell you man. With lawyers, I can't do that."

Investigators say White's form of punishment for the other two teenage girls living in the home was also to make them drink a gallon of water.

White says he's scared of losing the children for the rest of his life, but some of his neighbors say that's exactly what should happen.

"I can't imagine anyone that could have such low respect for any kind of life. I can't. It's sickening," said Marilyn Scaccio, who lives a few houses away, but said she never heard anything unusual.

Florida Department of Children and Families says the family just recently moved from Georgia, so they've never investigated any abuse before.

DCF is removing all three kids from the home.

"When an allegation is presented against an adoptive parent later on in life, it's just really, really frustrating," said DCF spokesperson Carrie Hoeppner.

Despite the accusations, White says he wants the kids back.

"My children want to come home with me. They tell me that. They're begging to come home," he said.

He faces two felony child abuse charges, but investigators say additional charges are possible. The special needs teen is still in a local hospital recovering, but his condition is not being released.

DCF says it's also investigating what role White's wife may have played.