Is it really this bad? >> He hit me in the head with a plate. What is that? >> It's all bloodied. >> Where did that come from? >> My head. It says "Gee" to me. It's like she just hit it against my head. >> I'm having a super period right now. Is this real? >> Ma'am, you're going to jail. >> On March 10th, 2025, deputies with the Sumter County Sheriff's Office in Florida responded to a residence after a young boy called 911 reporting that he and his mother had gotten into it and he needed help. As deputies arrived, they found physical evidence throughout the home pointing at what had happened and a mom struggling to explain herself. >> Hello. What's going on? >> It's not the first time that I've It's not the first time that I've brought officers out to talk to him. I've had you guys out twice, I think, since we've moved out here. >> Okay. I got that that much. What happened tonight? >> He's just belligerent. I need you guys. Please, go inside. I need you guys. I I like I can't do do this by myself. >> Okay. How much have you had to drink? >> Like a large bottle. >> Of what? >> Wine. >> Wine? Okay. >> Yeah. >> So, let's try for the third time. What happened tonight? >> His behavior has been so belligerent and he's he's talked about not wanting to live. >> Do you need me to repeat the question? >> Yes. >> What happened tonight? >> He He just gets into it with his sister. >> Okay. >> With me. >> All right. What don't you know? Why are we here? What happened? >> After first speaking with 46-year-old Maria Carella Sorrentino, deputies quickly realized she was heavily intoxicated and unable to clearly explain the events leading up to the incident. To better understand what had happened, they turned their attention to the children. >> My head. >> What is that? >> It's open. >> Where did that come from? >> My head. She hit me with a Did this thing. She hit me and then she's like she just hit it in my head. >> Okay. You're okay. >> It's cuz she's drunk. >> Okay. Hey buddy. >> SHE ALWAYS DRINKS AND SMOKES. >> HEY BUDDY. Hey buddy. Hey buddy. >> SHE WAS THROWING UP. >> HEY BUDDY. WHAT Grab a seat for me, all right? So, what what were y'all arguing about? >> Um so, my mom thinks I said a bad word, but I didn't and I didn't do it. I didn't. I didn't and my sister LIED ABOUT IT, WHICH GOT HER TO GET MAD, which got me to hit his head with a plate and then those are the Everyone on the table >> Okay. Sit right there for a second, all right? Can I talk to you for a second? Did you see what happened? >> I thought he said a bad word. >> But did you see what happened? >> Yeah, she was hitting him. >> Okay. Did you see what happened to his head? >> My mom hit My mom the plate and then the plate >> Where was he sitting at? >> On the couch. >> Over here? >> Yeah, over here. >> Over there? Okay. I'm Let me get Let me get her statement. Do you know why she did that? What was What was said or what what she said? You got to give me a second, okay, there buddy. >> I thought he said a bad I thought he said a bad word, but he actually didn't and I didn't know. So, I told mom. >> Okay. And um what you were sitting right here? >> I was sitting right there. >> What Why Why Why did she do that? >> Because she's drunk and she's smoking and she's just She gets crazy when she's drunk. >> [snorts] >> LAST NIGHT I ALREADY I WAS ALREADY IN THE head last night. And I just And she And my word happened and now That That cut is is exposed way bigger. But, it's not It would have been the exact same if it wasn't that hot of a Like, she I don't like it. The plate didn't even break. >> Was she Was she standing Where was she standing at? >> She was like on top of me. I mean, there's blood everywhere. >> Okay, well, I I understand that. What You were sitting that way and she was on top of you? What did she say to you? >> I don't think she even said anything. I don't think she realized that that I'm I don't think she even realized that >> [snorts] >> that she's going to cause me to so much. And my dominant hand is red. >> Okay, well, the EMS is going to come check you out, okay? >> Okay. >> As deputies spoke with the victim and his sister, the scene inside the home became much clearer. Their accounts not only explained how the injury occurred, but also painted a troubling picture of what happened whenever Maria had been drinking. Outside, deputies were about to get a much clearer picture of what had happened inside that home. >> He's belligerent. He's been going to therapy, right? >> Yes. >> We've been out here multiple times. He gets into arguments with his sister, right? >> Yes. >> I got all that. What led up to the sheriff's office being called and us coming here tonight? >> He He called >> Okay. Why? >> What? No. >> They're good. They're just checking your son out. >> No. >> No what? >> So, I got on to him >> Mhm. About what? >> About his talking back. >> Okay. >> About his being belligerent. >> Okay. >> This is how it happened. >> So, you got on to him. >> Yes. >> What does that mean? What does that mean? You yelled at him? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes, I did. >> All right. >> And >> We haven't gotten very far in the last 5 minutes. Uh four times now I've asked her what happened tonight. All I could gather is that we've been out here before. He gets belligerent. He gets into it with his sister. Trying to get what happened tonight, but we're we're not getting there. You got onto him. >> Yes. >> Okay, then what? >> Yes, I did. And he was like, I have told him we have called you guys multiple times. >> Okay. >> And so tonight he was like, call the cops, call the cops. >> Do you wish to answer my questions? >> I said yes, but I cannot understand how I've gotten to this point. >> That's okay, we can work with you on that. Did you hit him in the head with that plate? >> No. >> How did he get the cut on the back of his head? >> After speaking with Maria one more time, deputies still needed to understand just how far the situation had gone. Their attention soon returned to the boy at the center of the incident, who was about to reveal something that made it clear this wasn't the first time his mother's drinking had caused problems. >> And in my room, for last night, there's dry on the floor because I I fell back because my mom pushed me down, and I I have this car that has like a metal bar that um that has that connects to a semi that I a toy semi that I have, and I fell back and my head into it, and basically I had to peel off my head. And I'm lucky it's I'm lucky it's like that big, but if it was bigger, it would have gone straight through my head. >> Does your mom normally get mad pretty easy? Yeah. >> It's usually when she's drunk. >> Has she Has she been drinking tonight? Yeah. What's she been drinking? Go ahead. Wine? How many bottles do you think? >> Probably one. >> One? A full just a full bottle? Okay. >> By this point, the evidence against Maria was impossible to ignore, but deputies still needed to see whether she would acknowledge what had happened. But even after learning what the children had reported, she remained convinced she had done nothing that warranted an arrest. >> [bell] >> I have done everything to protect my children. Sir, please. Um I I have I'm having a super period right now. >> What? >> I'm having a super period right now. Okay, and um I need to use the bathroom. >> Okay, can you Can we do the statement first? I just told you they got everybody sitting right there. >> Can you just please come in in the >> going in the bathroom with you while you go in there. >> have to come in the bathroom with me. You can like I can leave the door kind of How do Are we even in this position? I must go to bathroom. >> Okay, you're going to have to wait a minute. All right, you can't get through the door. They're all right there. >> Okay. >> They're tending to your son. >> My box of tampons that is in my bathroom right now. Please. >> No, I'm not going to go and get you tampons. All right. Hey Hey, hold on. They're right there tending to your son. All right, we're just going to have to set priorities right now. You have to tend to your son first, all right? While we're waiting, are you willing to fill out the statement? Print Print the name Print your name on that first line there. The rest of that on this first line right here. It says I, then print your name. And um all that is your Miranda warnings. You can read them over again. Um >> Sir, I'm not going to sign this >> Okay, good enough. >> it first. >> Go ahead. Read it. >> Sir. >> By all means, read it. Go ahead. It's fine. Read it. >> Come on. >> Ma'am, I'm not going to sit out here and argue with you. If you want to fill this out, that's great. If you don't, that's that's fine. You want to read this, read it. I'm just telling you right now, just print your name here. It says I and then your name. And then >> I. I understand this well enough. Decide it. >> Yep, good enough. I hope so you can stop drinking like that. Cuz I'm sure it'll be a benefit to you not to be intoxicated like that. You said three to four times a week? >> She said several. >> Several? >> Not most, but several. >> By this point, deputies had gathered more than enough to make their decision. Even as Maria struggled to accept what was happening, the night was about to end with her leaving the home in handcuffs. >> All right. Go and stand up for me. Turn around, put your hands behind your back. Turn around, put your hands behind your back. >> Are you serious? >> Yes, ma'am. Don't grab your hands. It makes it harder to >> It doesn't say anything about custody. >> He said he had joint custody. She says he don't, so we're going to >> We're going to have to um call DCF and get DCF involved, which >> We don't We don't have >> Is he restricted from from having the kids? >> No. >> There's no paperwork that says that >> There was, but that's why >> he's their dad. >> Yes. >> If they have to be with him, they can be with him. >> Yes. >> That's all we need to make sure. >> Is this >> Yes, ma'am. >> You're going to jail. So, I need to make sure that they're safe. >> Do you have anything in your pockets? >> No. No, sir. >> [snorts] >> You see anything up front? >> No. Go ahead. Don't go. >> Well, he was here last night, but he doesn't He lives in Claremont. >> Yes. >> So, let's walk that way for me, all right? 175 on 10-15, adult female. >> What am I being arrested for? What am I being arrested for? >> All right. Slide on in. Here, sit Sit back so I can put your seat belt on. >> This is un- >> Can you look that way for me, please? >> Yes. >> Scoot this way. I can't get to the seat belts if All right, that's fine. >> Can you please >> Sit Sit back for me. >> After Maria was taken into custody, the children's father arrived at the scene hoping to understand what had happened while he was away. Deputies filled him in on the investigation, his son's condition, and where Maria had been taken. >> How's it going? My son, my son, >> All right. Yeah. Um I guess EMS is waiting for you to see if you wanted to be transported or not. >> I told them on the phone no. >> Okay. So, they'll probably have you sign something saying no. >> Okay. >> Um she was arrested and so Is there any custody issue or >> No, no. We're just We are separated and there was and that expired in January. She had things with me and I was Everything's cleared up though. It's everything That was 2 years ago. >> So, are you going to be staying here with the kids or >> That was the whole plan and I was going to come off work and I was coming over here to stay the night with them. >> Okay. So, you'll be here tonight with them. >> here with them. >> Okay. Do you have questions for us? >> I mean, I you know, have what happened like the story-wise or >> Well, you know, it was very hard getting information out of her. No, we're good. Thanks. >> [clears throat] >> Thank you. >> She just kept saying that he gets belligerent. >> Which is true. You guys have been out here before for that. >> Yeah. The story that we got from them two is basically she got on top of him because, you know, he was cursing and stuff and then she had a plate in her hand and hit him on the back of the head with the plate. >> Okay. >> And what she admitted to but she just wasn't able to go into much detail >> Okay. >> as to how all that transpired. >> Is this possible for me to get a case number or anything to figure out what's going on cuz I >> Yeah, give you the case number. She's being arrested for probably child >> And what is that? Is it a misdemeanor or felony? What is >> Probably felony. >> Okay. >> And uh we have to call DCF so DCF will be coming out um within 24 hours. >> Okay. >> And so they'll have to make contact with you and the kids and go through that whole process. >> Is she going to be here in Bushnell? >> She's going to Bushnell, yeah. Um She probably will be in jail overnight, have to go to first appearance, and talk to the judge, and then >> Go from there. >> Yeah, so. >> All right. Can't believe this. >> Sorry. >> Yeah, I get it. >> Ultimately, 46-year-old Maria Carella Sorrentino was arrested and charged with a She was booked into the Sumter County Detention Center without bond.