HAINES CITY, Fla. — A couple accused of neglecting a 2-year-old boy were in the country illegally, Haines City police said.
Alejandro Gallardo, 34, and girlfriend Yuri Melgar, 33, were both arrested early Monday.
Officials from the state Department of Children and Families called police about 10 p.m. Sunday while the boy was at Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando. He was being treated for dual ear drainage.
The boy had scratches on his head, back and torso, sores, very thin legs, a protruding rib cage, rotten and chipped teeth, according to police. He had a fractured left arm that was not properly treated and a 2-inch open wound on his left forearm, investigators said.
He was unable to stand, walk or crawl and didn't appear to have been bathed in days, police said.
"To treat an animal this way would be an outrage, much less a child," Chief Jim Elensky said.
Detectives went to the couple's apartment overnight Sunday and found three other children who appeared in good health. The apartment appeared to be neat and clean.
Gallardo told police he has had custody of the boy since January. Melgar was the child's primary caregiver.
Both Gallardo and Melgar are in the country illegally and are being detained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, police said.
The child is staying with a family friend.
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