JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrested a Jacksonville couple early Sunday morning on multiple child neglect charges after investigators say five children in their care were found severely underweight and showing signs of malnourishment.
Anthony Jones, 37, and Erica Bryant, 33, both of Jacksonville, were each charged with five counts of child neglect without great bodily harm, a third-degree felony. Both were booked into jail in the early morning hours of July 19.
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What officers say they found
Officers were dispatched to the couple’s apartment on the evening of July 18, 2026, to assist the Department of Children and Family Services (DCF) with a well-being check. A DCF investigator had been called to the home after one of the children had been admitted to Wolfson Children’s Hospital at the recommendation of her primary care physician.
Upon entering the apartment, the arresting officer observed four juveniles who were described as “extremely thin in stature”, according to arrest reports. One child in particular showed visible signs of malnourishment, with the officer noting “boney prominence.” JSO says Jones was detained after repeatedly interrupting DCF’s attempt to independently interview the children.
Children evaluated at Wolfson Children’s Hospital
All five children were transported to Wolfson Children’s Hospital for full medical evaluations. An ER doctor examined each child and found all to be underweight for their age, according to the reports.
Police say one child weighed just 44 pounds and showed bruising on the left ankle, unexplained marks on the back, a right abdominal scar, and a bruise on the right side and back. The child told hospital staff that something tight had previously been around the ankle. A second child, weighing 75 pounds, had bruising to the right rib cage and a bruise and scrape to the left pinky finger. A third child weighed 61 pounds and had open wounds on both earlobes that the child could not explain. A fourth child weighed 63 pounds and had a scrape around one of his wrists and a forearm scar.
A registered nurse, who was providing care to two of the children, told officers that one child said he and a sibling had not eaten that day — and that they had been instructed by an adult in the home to lie to the DCF investigator. The child also told the nurse that a scar on his right forearm was the result of Bryant attempting to cut his arm, with Jones pulling him away, according to court documents.
Suspects questioned
According to JSO, Jones told police the children had not eaten that day — despite the children waking up at 1 p.m. and officers arriving nearly nine hours later at approximately 10 p.m. Jones said he had been waiting for the DCF investigator to arrive before feeding the children because he “did not want someone in the house while the children were eating.” When asked about groceries, he said the last purchase had been made during the first week of July.
Officers noted the kitchen was stocked with food, including deli meat, bread, and frozen items.
Bryant told officers she had been at the hospital with one of the children during the initial welfare check. She said Jones had been responsible for cooking in the household over the past three years. She also said she would not force the children to eat and that children could only get snacks after dinner.