Cape Coral family looked sterling online: Social media trail shows no signs of alleged abuse
MICHAEL BRAUN , AMY BENNETT WILLIAMS | The News-Press
Southwest Florida neighbors of Daniel and Jenise Spurgeon are struggling to process the missed cues or ignored hints of what the couple's foster and adopted children told deputies was happening inside their $357,000 canal-front house.
The Spurgeons were arrested Monday by Cape Coral police on charges of sexual and physical abuse of at least 10 adopted or foster children in their care.
The picture painted by public records, social media and those who coached their children is of an upper middle-class family that loves water and the outdoors.
Daniel's Facebook timeline shows pictures of him with Jenise and children boating, on the beach and paddleboarding. Jenise's posts include news about swim meets and baking cookies. It also says she studied biology at Chatham University in Pittsburgh and her LinkedIn profile says she's a homemaker interested in health and fitness.
Daniel's LinkedIn profile says he studied information technology at Baker College in Flint, Michigan, and computer science at the University of North Alabama. Since 2013, he's been an application developer for Xerox.
The children's Facebook photos and postings show shots of them having fun boating, on vacations, overseas and with friends and family.
An avid amateur photographer, Daniel Spurgeon describes himself as a nature geek on the website of a self-publishing company that produced two books for him, "A Day in the Okefenokee Swamp," co-authored by zoologist Ron Van Houten and "Look at What I Caught! Critters Caught by Kids," which details some 60 wild things caught mostly by his children over the course of a summer.
Along with photos of his home and the woods, Daniel took close-up photos he called "insect glamour shots" that he shared on Flickr and BugGuide online.
He also blogged. His Nature at Close Range contains videos, photos and essays about nature. "Whether it be an ugly bug or a beautiful wild lily — there is something fascinating in all creatures," he wrote.
Don Henshaw, coach at the Gulf Coast Swim Team in Estero, said the Spurgeon children had, until a few days ago, participated in the club's activities.
At last four of them were listed on a recent fundraising roster from the club.
"We deactivated their accounts after the news broke," he said.
He added that Jenise Spurgeon had called a parent at the Gulf Coast Swim Team in North Fort Myers to say that the kids had been split up with some going to relatives on the east coast. The foster children involved were transferred back to Alabama, where the family moved from last year.
"I did not see this coming, I was totally taken off guard," Henshaw said, adding that neither he nor his wife, also a swim coach, saw signs of abuse. "I know kids can say things, but you have to investigate," he said.
Henshaw, a swimming coach for 40 years, said that the children first started swimming at the North Fort Myers club but later switched to the south Lee County team and had been there about 8 to 9 months.
"They started out fairly good," he said, and had improved over the ensuing months.
Henshaw said that the children were always brought by Jenise Spurgeon. "I never saw the dad," he said.
Although the mother never said much, he said she was always wanting to do everything she could to make her children better swimmers.
Henshaw said he offered to try to help with fees, which could get substantial the more children were involved. "She told me 'no, thank you, we're fine,'" he said.
"All of the children were well-behaved, thoughtful and well-mannered. They also got along well with the other children involved."
One of two 13-year-old Spurgeon girls, in particular, had developed into a considerable cheerleader and motivator for the team, often cheering poolside.
"She had more spirit than anyone on the team," he said.
Connect with breaking news reporter Michael Braun: MichaelBraunNP (Facebook), @MichaelBraunNP (Twitter) or mbraun@news-press.com.