You are positive for >> What? And we finally got everything. We're all going to do is one thing, man. >> There will be a safety plan put in place because the home has to be cleaned out. I'm going to have to take pictures of your home. I need to take pictures of your home, okay? >> Okay, that's fine. My niece, she probably needs a new diaper or something. >> Okay. >> You guys can walk through my house and look at everything. I need my baby back. >> On September 5th, 2025, officers with the Sarasota Police Department, along with investigators from DCF, arrived at a residence on 24th Street after an anonymous tip suggested a 5-year-old child inside the home may have been in danger. On paper, it was logged as a standard welfare check, but by the time officers arrived at the scene, it turned out to be something else entirely. >> Hi. How are you? >> Hello. >> Are you Crystal? >> Yes. >> Okay, I'm Jordan. I'm with Department of Children and Families. Um there's a report um that we have a child here um and that she's being kept in the home. She's not She's not coming outside. She's not being fed. >> No, she definitely being fed. >> Her hair has to be done. Her hair and I have to do her hair. Okay. So, I do have to interview you um um as well as uh Torrance too, the father of her. Um and we have to see if you have to view your home. I have to see where she sleeps, um take a look pictures because you're also stating that your home has environmental hazards. It's very cluttered inside. >> currently right now. Come on, Torrance. >> Okay. So, >> This is DCF? >> I I I don't need a warrant for DCF. I >> Is >> It's regarding child safety. >> I don't have to let you in. >> Ma'am, do you have any dogs or anything in the house? No dogs? Okay. >> So, regarding um >> You know the first thing I was going to say, I was going to say I was about to go today to go get her physical for school cuz I already got her shots and everything. And I found a place and I found a place where I can pay $20 to go and get >> We're putting that refrigerator to use, aren't we? >> Yeah, no we Yeah, I >> Yeah, it's just one of the things >> everything is torn apart so we can find all of our laundry. >> Happens. We all Yeah. >> We're doing everything we possibly can. >> I don't know why people always in other people's business. >> She will sit on there so we can back on that hill. She won't She won't use the tablet. And if we could try So, it's not like he is not trying at all. It's just that he won't And I just don't know. The avenues which We found a school that will actually like test her and everything like that. It's off Get Elementary. So, and all I got to do is just get the physical and we're good to go. >> And when When will you be getting the physical? >> It was going to be today because they going to walk into that clinic all the way until 8:00. I was going to go pay my rent at 3:00. Right after that we were going to go get dressed and get that physical done today. And I don't need an appointment. >> So, um how often are you all having your beers? >> I don't really drink that often, but very rarely do I have to come out here until like 6:00 or 7:00. >> I agree. >> Yes, he does. But, he's always out here, you know, doing his thing out here. And when I'm at work, he's in and out of the house looking to see if everything's okay because as you can tell, he's been doing the lawn and everything. He's been a hot mess. >> So, when you're at work, she's taking care of that. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Does anybody else Does anybody else care or watch the children besides you? >> Yeah, they do. >> Okay. >> She is much older. She's 14. She's 14. >> Okay. And then now She's over there in the grass now on her little tricycle. I don't know how long it was since she was here. I won't let her get up here in the grass cuz I got to clean it up. I got to finish cleaning it. Like y'all said, man. We don't want to go through this one time. >> So, what I want to do is just sign in. Just print your name here. Both of you will print your name. >> Didn't you say we went through this and it was over? Didn't this wasn't this supposed to be over? >> Just sign it. Uh >> Then yeah. >> Print your name, date, sign, and then your relationship to the child. >> We need to get enough money to get away from here. That's all it is. >> Yeah, take one for you. Your name, print it, sign, and then your relationship to the child. Understand that this is Bonnie signed that um I can hear you for a second. You're just Sorry. But I'm yours. I'm so I'm literally finally getting there. You know what I'm saying? I'm finally finally got my license back and everything and and we finally got everything where all we had to do was one thing, man. Finally getting the house ready. Finally pulled out stuff we didn't even know we had anymore. Finally getting stuff out of her room so we can finally do her room. Oh, we got to do one more thing, man. Me, too. I just >> This is one thing to be normal. We finally got there. >> This is a investigation of the child. Unfortunately, as bad as it seemed, as annoying as it is, um we're always going to come out victorious. If it wasn't the child not here or included, I wouldn't be here, but >> She's five. She needs to ask >> Look at it from my way. She's five. She's not in school. They only know her to be here. That for me is concerning because at the age of 5 years old and she doesn't have a late birthday, she should be enrolled in >> Yes, I know this. >> So, and then you have um other you have Who is this kid? >> Okay, but they were at my mom's. >> The first thing investigators encountered wasn't the child. It was the parents. Sitting outside in the front yard under a tent, beer in hand, were 37-year-old Crystal Cates and 50-year-old Torrance Bowles. The pair looked completely unbothered as authorities tried to assess the situation. When asked about the condition of the home, Cates told officers the place was a mess because they had just moved in. A story that would collapse the moment investigators verified the facts. The couple had been living at that address for over 10 years. >> has environmental hazards to health and clutter and um Tory being technically malnourished. >> Yeah. >> I'm having to take pictures of your home and take pictures of Tory, okay? >> Okay, that's fine. >> Tory needs to mind you, she probably needs a new diaper or something. >> Okay. >> All right. >> If you go into my house, I'm just letting you know. >> [snorts] >> When officers finally moved inside, what they walked into didn't match anything the parents had been saying from the yard. The air conditioning was off in the middle of a Florida September. A baby gate sealed off one of the bedrooms, and behind it was the 5-year-old alone. The room had been stripped of nearly everything a child that age should have. No bedding, no comfort items, no toys, and no clothes in the closet. Just a dirty, torn sheet over a bare mattress on the floor and an empty dresser sitting in the middle of the room. But the conditions weren't even the worst of it. The state of the child herself was something none of the officers were prepared for. >> Right now, we're going to have to you all are going to have to uh call make some calls, family members, cousins, Um there will be a safety plan put in place because the home has to be cleaned up. This is way too far. It's way too It's I'm not leaving I'm not She has to until we can You have to get your home cleaned up. Um and I will I will not be leaving here until someone comes and picks up Tory. Um so you have to get someone to come >> She can't take care of her child and she can't take care of her child. you and dad can take some time to clean up, get everything sorted and in the fashion that is safe for her because although yes, she could have a good that sheet shouldn't be on there. But also yeah, but I understand this is respect to you both. I I don't think you all are bad parents. I just think you need some assistance. Also that sheet should have should have been off not a day ago, not yesterday, the day before. That sheet should have been off weeks ago. I can just tell by how it looks. Um the mattress And for that mattress to be already here when you all moved here, that's also a problem. Cuz that's No, you're you know you're not. But I when I viewed your home just now, you all have a bed and there's a couch. Unfortunately, a parent is going to have to sacrifice. You're you're you're you all have a bed. It has a sheet on it. It's fine. And I'm only I'm That's fine. That's fine. And also Also, I want you all to know I'm saying all this to say that I can tell that you all need services and that's what this department does. My goal is not to remove your kid to cause trauma to your kid. I don't guys I don't agree with that. I'm not a fan of that. I can put services in place. You all have to do the services. You have to be willing and wanting to do the services for this to go in a better place. Because if if it's not and something else reoccurs or the home doesn't get cleaned, unfortunately, my next step Yes, ma'am. And if you uh I'm going to get your number from them to text to text you from my work phone. Um and then uh Well, I I actually unfortunately I'm going to give you my cell phone number because my work number is But um I will give you my cell phone number and that way you can send me the address and then um we'll meet I'll meet you at your home. >> Okay. No problem at all. >> Okay. >> That's fine. >> All righty. Thank you so much. >> By the time DCF made their determination, there was little room for debate. When the child was brought outside, she was still within reach of the two people who were supposed to be caring for her. That didn't last. Eventually, the decision was made. The child would not be going back inside that house. >> That's that's for them, right? That's for them. So, you don't you don't have to peel this off or anything. Just peel the glove, tie the lid for me, and then just bring it inside and get the bag out. You also have to do one, too. So, if he's using the bathroom, that would be better if you can catch him. Hey, hon. Come here. You want to come back this way? >> So, what's that what's in, mama? >> Uh it says I can tell that you're positive for THC, but I'm just trying to figure out if your thing says you are positive for uh What? >> Yeah, that must be the relation to it. But I smoke. No. >> That's it. Oh my god. >> Well, I know one thing. Guess what it's time to do. >> What? >> Either quit or or go get my ding dong cord. >> I'm quitting. I'm quitting. >> Yeah, I'm quitting. >> Because that's that's it. >> Yeah. >> That's it. I'm quitting. Messed up part. I literally don't even feel that often. Now I'm really This makes me even more mad now. >> You know, sometimes they put synthetic >> That's That's the thing is that and tell her that I'm seeing a read to just confirm what it is. I just see the read for a positive read for Uh-uh. No, no, no. >> Uh-uh. Well, I know how can I feel when I'm smoking >> But like he just said, he said >> Unless you're getting it from a dispensary, you have no clue. Even if this is your best friend, you have no clue what they're putting in this stuff cuz you don't know where someone got it from. >> Do you take any medication? >> No, I don't. >> I I take ibuprofen. >> The only thing I do is uh yeah, I take ibuprofen, Tylenol, >> Come on, baby. >> and I have a gummy. Like >> gummy regular? >> No. No, like my regular like vitamin gummies. >> Okay. >> As DCF worked to place her with family, attention shifted back to the two adults still on scene. Both Crystal Cates and Torrance Bowles were tested for the presence of illegal substances in their body. When the results came back positive, both parents tried to put on an Oscar-worthy display of shock. Though anyone paying attention could tell this was a performance they had rehearsed. >> Huh? >> How about smoking? You should put it there. >> I'm pretty sure your phone's charged up now. >> Thank you. >> I got it for you. >> There you go. It's okay. It's okay. You got it. Wait, wait, wait. You can't drive. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on, baby. It's okay. You're fine. Let me get you to your seat. Now, I'll buckle you in. We don't We don't get you hurt. >> From there, DCF didn't wait. The child was taken directly to a child protection center for a medical evaluation. >> What am I being charged What am I being charged with? What's going on? You have a warrant. >> Huh? >> You have a warrant for your arrest. >> I got a warrant for my arrest? >> Yes, sir. >> Who did? What happened here? Do I have a warrant for my arrest? >> Well, we'll explain everything to you in a second. >> Can I make a phone call, then? >> Not right now. >> It's a warrant. >> Warrant for what? >> Bow. >> Okay. I see it, brother. >> 5 14 75. How would I have a warrant for my arrest? >> You have an arrest warrant for >> Uh with that or without great bodily harm. >> I'm taking notes. >> Would you like to talk to the detective? >> He dropped something out his What is Oh, what is this cigarette? >> What the >> Torrance, do you want to speak with a detective? >> Why why why would I have a warrant for >> Okay, you have a warrant for child neglect. >> and the detective has more information about it. So, if you'd like more information, you're going to have to talk to the detective. >> They just left from here, sir. >> Who? >> The um the the the DCF people. >> Okay. >> They was here yesterday. >> Okay. Well, the warrants through the police department, not through uh DCF. >> How? The what did I >> The sergeant told you. He said child neglect with bodily harm. >> Okay. What How can I have child >> Well, that's something you'd have to speak to the detective about. Is that something you want to do? >> My my my child ain't even home. >> Well, if you don't want to do that, that's fine. Um all the information will be >> the Where is the detective at, man? Cuz I I want to know what's going on here. >> detective's at the police station. Do you want to go down there and speak with her? >> I'm getting arrested for nothing. >> Wait, hold on. >> Well, what's the the >> This is our paperwork. >> I thought I thought that was like a big no-no cuz you guys have to listen to your your your stuff. >> You like country music? >> I like music. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] >> All right. >> Will you help me up? >> Yeah, I'm going to help you up. I'm going to help you up, but I'm going to have to put those cuffs behind uh >> I know uh I can't do the the stand up. That's all. >> Got it? All right. >> Yeah, I I know you you were right there. >> Yeah, unfortunately, this is just the policy. I got to put them behind. I'm going to keep them loose just so, you know, you can help keep your balance. All right. Just give me 1 second. I'm going to double lock them so you don't get uh don't get uh tight on you. All right. Let's go ahead and walk this way. >> What is this? >> All right, stay right there. Walk this way. >> This is crazy here. Are you walking me over there? >> Nope. >> Okay. >> Driving over there. Right to there. Right to the car right there. >> This here is ridiculous. >> Watch your step. >> When when you comply, do everything you they ask you to do, I still I go to >> Well, here's the thing. If you did the right thing in the first place, then none of this would have happened. Right? That's just because you cleaned up what they told you to clean up. >> But but [music] just because the house was it was messy. >> Huh? Oh, well, I think there was more to it than the house being [music] messy. >> What do you mean? >> Have a seat and never mind. >> What do you mean by that? >> I mean, I don't think it was just because you had a messy house. Why don't you Yeah, sit sit down first and you can slide your butt up there just like you did when you got in. Swing your legs in. >> I don't Whoever called made I don't know. I don't know. >> In the following days, the case quickly moved toward charges. On September 11th, 2025, 6 days after officers first walked through that front door, Torrence Bowles was taken into custody at the home. Later that same day, Crystal Cates was arrested at her job site. >> Crystal, stop. >> Stop. >> Put your hands up. >> Stop. Stop. >> Can you grab my bag? >> I'll grab your bag. >> Right here. >> Yep, I'll grab it. >> So, what is that? >> You have an arrest warrant. >> What? I'm doing everything I can to get everything ready. Everything's done. >> Where is your bag? >> Right there, the pink one. >> This one right here? >> Everything Yeah, everything is completely done. I've been working with them. I've been doing everything. >> Okay, well there's a warrant for your arrest, so and we didn't want to come in here like this, but the fact that you were coming and trying to get the children away from us. >> Well, I wasn't running from you guys. I was hiding my stuff. >> Sorry. We just saw you coming in running here, so we didn't mean to come back here. >> I'd rather talk to the detective. Cuz I'm doing You guys can walk through my house and look at everything. I need my baby back. >> we're unfamiliar We're unfamiliar with the case. It's It's the detectives who are the ones who get all the information. >> to talk to the detective. >> You want to talk to the detective? >> Yeah, that's right. >> We'll take We'll take you to the police station. Okay, we're just going to We got to hang here for a second cuz a few A female officer's coming. She's going to search you prior to getting in the car. Okay, anything in the backpack? Anything you know of? >> Not that I know of. >> Any weapons or anything? >> In my waistband. I might have a pen knife. I get sorry about all the trash. >> What's that? It's all right. You don't need to clean up. >> You got three? >> Just first the car. >> Here's There's a lighter that's going to be right on this side and my cigarette's right there. >> Sweet. Awesome. Where's the cigarettes? >> On the other side right here. >> See this guy? >> Oh, it's my little kid. My my lucky kid. I forgot all about that. My apologies. I used to keep it up here, but it kept falling off. It's going to be like a class that you have to roll up. >> Oh, I see. Yeah, yeah. I see it. I'll just throw this in your >> I'm going to mess up three times about it. >> This is what you're going to get. Welcome. You got to You got to step there and then that's your >> I'm scared down the slide. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. >> We got this, yeah. >> Maybe. >> We're going to Just walk on this side. Walk this way. >> That's going to drain this. >> Yeah, it does. How long you been working at Anna's? >> I've been working there for almost 4 years now. And I got I lost my job, I'm pretty sure now. >> Well, we'll see how this goes. >> I'm doing everything >> Like we tried I mean, we didn't want to do that in the back and stuff. So, if that >> You guys had no idea. >> Yeah. Wasn't our intention just to give you some peace of mind. >> It's right. There's jobs everywhere. >> That's true. >> But I really really really like this. I know it sounds weird that I enjoy only one side. Can we walk? >> I mean, probably faster, but now we're going to drive. >> Okay. Still have it. I know you guys are here. >> We can cross the street. >> Here we go again. Okay, but this time I didn't [clears throat] try to break my hand. >> In the end, each was charged in connection with the neglect of the child. The bond was set at $30,000 for Kaylee and $40,000 for Bowles with conditions that included mandatory drug and alcohol testing and no contact with the child or with each other.