Florida couple arrested for allegedly beating their children with extension cords

A Florida City couple is accused of severely beating their two young children with extension cords over a span of 11 days.

Janice Young, 46, and Ashanti Young, 43, were arrested Thursday on two counts each of aggravated child abuse causing great bodily harm, the arrest reports said.

The incident came to light when they returned to their elementary school in Homestead after the holidays. 

Reports are that the children endured this harrowing ordeal during their Thanksgiving break, which took place from November 18 to 29. 

Discovery at school

According to reports, the school counselor became suspicious when a child in the physical education class refused to remove his jacket. 

The 7-year-old child shared that he had bruises on his arm, but upon closer examination by the school nurse, fresh cuts were discovered. 

It is further reported that his 8-year-old sister disclosed to the school counselor that their mothers beat them using a white and black cord.

Describing the horrors

According to reports, the 8-year-old recounted the gruesome details, explaining that her misbehavior during the Thanksgiving break, such as coloring and drawing, had triggered the abuse. 

She reported that Janice Young, one of her mothers, had beaten her with a white electrical cable on the back of her thighs. 

The ordeal was so painful that she had trouble sitting down due to the excruciating pain in her legs.

The young girl further revealed that Janice Young would sometimes employ a cord, shoe, or stick to administer punishment, while Ashanti Young, her other mother, was less severe but still culpable in the abuse.

Physical evidence

The 8-year-old girl exhibited multiple scars on her back and arms, along with freshly scabbed welts on the back of her legs. 

Meanwhile, the 7-year-old boy disclosed that Janice Young had beaten him with a white extension cord for merely coloring in one of his books. 

She then instructed him to conceal his injured arm beneath a sock and refrain from showing it to anyone. 

He also had scabbed welts on his arm and scars on his leg.

Denials and arrests

Reports are that Janice Young claimed that the children had inflicted harm on each other, resulting in their injuries. 

Ashanti Young, on the other hand, denied any involvement in abusing her children and said that she does not know how they got hurt.