Share and Follow
Robert Elderidge and Ashley Elderidge (Brevard County Sheriff”s Office).
In a troubling case out of Florida, a couple is under investigation for allegedly subjecting their daughter to harsh punishments, including forcing her to consume homemade hot sauce despite her known allergy. The incident reportedly began when the young girl shared with a school resource officer that her parents had been mistreating her, prompting an inquiry by local authorities.
Robert and Ashley Elderidge, aged 38 and 37 respectively, are facing accusations of child abuse in Cocoa, a city located approximately 45 miles from Orlando. The investigation unfolded after the girl confided in the officer about her ordeal, which led to an interview with a child protection team coordinator to delve deeper into the allegations.
During her interview, the girl recounted to the police, “They whoop me with a belt … a wooden spoon,” indicating a pattern of physical abuse. She further revealed that her father left her with bruises and welts on her left thigh, inflicted by both his hand and a belt. The girl explained that the punishment stemmed from her involvement in what she described as an “experiment” that resulted in “ink on the cat,” leading to her being struck 15 times, according to the affidavit.
Moreover, the girl disclosed that her mother compelled her to swallow homemade hot sauce concocted from red peppers, onions, and oil on 10 separate occasions, despite her allergy to the ingredients. This disturbing claim was noted in the police complaint, highlighting the severe nature of the disciplinary measures imposed by her parents.
The girl also said her mother created homemade hot sauce from “red peppers, onions and oil” and forced her to ingest a spoonful even though she is allergic to it, the complaint stated. This occurred on 10 different occasions, per cops.
“According to the victim, when she doesn’t want to drink the hot sauce, ‘Ashley’ would hold [the victim’s] nose closed, which prevented her from being able to breathe,” cops wrote. “The victim stated that the hot sauce made her stomach hurt and causes her to vomit.”
A doctor who examined her determined she suffered from “bizarre” physical abuse, according to police. The doctor also found numerous injuries on the victim, including bruises and three “long, parallel welts on her back thigh,” officers wrote.
Cops spoke with Robert Elderidge and he allegedly said that he “whooped her a—.” He claimed he “intended to strike her buttocks but that he struck her legs instead,” the affidavit said. Ashley Elderidge allegedly admitted to feeding the girl hot sauce because she lied about putting the ink on the cat.
Both parents were arrested and taken to the Brevard County Jail, where they remain on a $5,000 bond. Their next court date is set for April 7.